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.

5Johnny Furphy

Indiana Pacers

Embed from Getty Images

After a quiet rookie season spent learning the pace and physicality of the NBA, Johnny Furphy enters his second year in Indiana with a genuine chance to make an impact.

The 20-year-old Australian wing impressed over the summer with improved strength, sharper decision-making, and flashes of the athleticism that made him a viral Summer League standout.

With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the season and multiple rotation spots suddenly open, Furphy's development has become a timely opportunity for both player and team. He's added size to withstand NBA contact, focused on consistency as a catch-and-shoot threat, and shown promise defensively with active hands and effort in space.

Indiana's depth on the perimeter means earning minutes won't come easily, but this “gap year” for the Pacers could fast-track his growth.

If Furphy can pair reliable shooting with disciplined defence, he has the tools to solidify himself as one of Australia's next long-term NBA contributors.