The new NBA season marks a noteworthy landmark, with a record number of Australian stars playing in the world’s top basketball competition in 2024/25.
With so many players flying the flag for the nation, there is a decent chance an Aussie star could return home with the NBA championship this season.
Increased Australian involvement in the NBA has had a major impact in the betting industry, with Aussie punters eager to wager on the teams which feature their compatriots.
Bettors will engage in online betting in Australia even more this season given there are even more Aussies stars plying their trade in the NBA.
With that in mind, we have scoured the latest NBA odds to identify the teams with Australian players who are best placed to clinch the 2024/24 championship.
Joe Ingles – Minnesota Timberwolves
Joe Ingles left Orlando Magic for Minnesota Timberwolves during the off-season, marking his fourth transfer in as many years as he approaches the twilight of his illustrious career.
Ingles is already familiar with a couple of players, having played with Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley at Utah Jazz, where he established himself as the club’s all-time three-point leader.
He will likely play a bit-part role as the Wolves look to challenge for the NBA championship after coming agonisingly close last season.
The Wolves came close to winning the Western Conference title but ultimately finished third behind Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets. They subsequently enjoyed a fairytale run to the NBA Conference Finals but were sent packing by the Dallas Mavericks.
Ingles’ experience could be invaluable to the team this season. He has been a key player for his previous teams and can contribute across multiple positions on the court.
His versatility gives the Wolves a useful edge, and the Aussie star will hope to be a part of something special as the team pushes for their first-ever championship win.
Kyrie Irving & Dante Exum – Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks are one of the bookmakers’ favourites to win the NBA championship this season, but they’ve been dealt a huge blow with the campaign still in its infancy.
Aussie star Dante Exum has been ruled out for three months after undergoing surgery to fix a wrist injury that he picked up during training camp.
The wrist issue is his latest setback after dislocating his finger in the build-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics when Australia took on France in an exhibition contest.
Exum was a standout defender for the Mavericks last season. His paltry average of 7.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and three assists per game do not reflect his impact in the team.
He shot 49 percent from beyond the arc on over 100 attempts as the Mavericks reached the finals series last term.
With the 2011 champions keen to go one better than last season’s run, their hopes will be pinned on Exum’s countryman Kyrie Irving.
The Melbourne-born star technically isn’t an Aussie. The eight-time All-Star has represented the United States in the World Cup and the Olympics.
However, he has floated the prospect of switching allegiances to Australia after being overlooked for the Paris edition off the back of one of his best-ever seasons.
Alex Ducas – Oklahoma City Thunder
Alex Ducas signed a two-way contract with Oklahoma City Thunder after being overlooked during the off-season draft pick.
The Thunder already have plenty of depth in Ducas’ preferred position, so he may find it difficult to force his way into the team.
However, the former Saint Mary’s guard did more than enough to earn his two-way deal despite watching the Summer League from the sidelines due to injury problems.
The 23-year-old impressed for the Thunder during pre-season, and his performance against the New Zealand Breakers was particularly eye-catching.
Ducas bagged 15 points and four rebounds in a display that impressed Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, although he stressed that the Aussie still has room to improve.
Despite this, Ducas will be hoping to play some part in Thunder’s push for the championship after last season’s gut-wrenching exit in the Western Conference semi-finals against the Mavericks.
Hi! I’m Bryan, and I’m a passionate & expert writer with more than five years of experience. I have written about various topics such as product descriptions, travel, cryptocurrencies, and online gaming in my writing journey.
