The 2025–26 NBA season opens with a record number of Australians across rosters.

It's a reflection of how far the country's basketball pipeline has come, producing players who contribute in every role imaginable.

Here's how the 13 Aussies in the NBA stack up heading into the new season, based on form, opportunity, and long-term upside.

13Lachlan Olbrich

Chicago Bulls (two-way)

Lachlan Olbrich's rise from NBL breakout star to the NBA draft has been one of Australian basketball's most unexpected success stories.

Selected 55th overall in the 2025 Draft and now on a two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls, the Adelaide native brings the kind of high-IQ game that fits the team's system. After helping Illawarra capture its first NBL title in two decades, Olbrich impressed scouts with his blend of craft, physicality, and playmaking instincts, traits that made him stand out at the G League Elite Camp and Draft Combine.

Though undersized for a traditional big man, he makes up for it with creativity in the paint, sharp passing, and the ability to initiate offence through screens and handoffs. Most of his rookie season will be spent developing with the Windy City Bulls, but injuries in Chicago's frontcourt could open doors sooner than expected.

With his work ethic, touch around the rim, and familiarity with coach Billy Donovan's system, Olbrich is well-placed to follow the same path as fellow Aussies who turned two-way opportunities into lasting NBA roles.

Next