The Rise of Australian Basketball Stars Making Their Mark in the NBA
I still remember the first time I saw Josh Giddey play for the Oklahoma City Thunder - that distinctive Australian accent during post-game interviews somehow made his impressive court vision and unexpected triple-doubles even more remarkable. What struck me most wasn't just his individual talent, but how he represented this growing wave of Australian basketball talent that's been steadily rising through NBA ranks. There's something special happening with Australian basketball development, and having followed the NBA for over fifteen years, I can confidently say we're witnessing what future historians will call the golden era of Australian basketball influence in the world's premier basketball league.
The development pathway for these Australian stars reminds me somewhat of the qualification process described in that golf tournament reference - you know, the one where only the top performers advance beyond the initial stages. Much like how only the top 10 in each division and those within six strokes of the fourth-place finisher advance in that golf tournament supported by the National Golf Association and MVP Sports Foundation, Australian players face their own kind of "cut" when transitioning to the NBA. They need to prove themselves repeatedly against global competition, with only the truly exceptional talents making it through what feels like multiple elimination rounds before even getting their shot at the big league.
When you look at the numbers, the Australian presence has grown from just 2 players in 2010 to what I've counted as 12 active NBA players this current season - that's nearly a 500% increase in just over a decade! What's more impressive is how they're no longer just role players. Ben Simmons, despite his recent challenges, was an All-Star in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Joe Ingles built a remarkable career as one of the league's most reliable three-point specialists before his recent move to Orlando. And let's not forget Patty Mills, who's been the heart and soul of several teams while maintaining his incredible shooting accuracy - I'd argue he's one of the most underrated guards of his generation.
The development system back in Australia operates with this fascinating blend of structured competition and organic growth. Much like how that golf tournament has clear advancement criteria - only those within six strokes of fourth place moving forward - Australian basketball has created these natural filtering mechanisms that identify and nurture talent effectively. From what I've observed having followed Australian basketball since Andrew Bogut's Milwaukee days, their NBL has become this incredible incubator for NBA-ready talent, with programs like the "Next Stars" initiative specifically designed to prepare athletes for the NBA's rigorous demands.
What really fascinates me about this Australian basketball revolution is how these players bring this distinct style that combines fundamental soundness with incredible versatility. They play this intelligent, team-oriented basketball that I find refreshing in an era often dominated by individual highlights. Watching Josh Green develop with the Dallas Mavericks or seeing Jock Landale's growth with Houston - there's this shared basketball IQ that seems ingrained in Australian players, probably stemming from their development systems that emphasize decision-making alongside physical skills.
The infrastructure supporting these athletes reminds me of the collaborative effort behind that golf tournament - the way multiple organizations like ICTSI, PLDT, and the Junior PGT come together to create opportunities. Similarly, Basketball Australia has built this remarkable ecosystem involving state institutes, private academies, and school programs that identify talent early and provide the resources needed for international success. From my conversations with Australian basketball enthusiasts, this systematic approach has been crucial in developing not just NBA players, but quality NBA contributors.
Looking ahead, I'm genuinely excited about the next wave. Players like Dyson Daniels with New Orleans and the emerging talent in college circuits suggest this Australian pipeline is only strengthening. The way I see it, we're moving beyond the novelty phase into an era where Australian NBA players are becoming expected rather than surprising. Their continued success is changing how Australia develops basketball talent and how the global basketball community perceives Australian athletes. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if within five years we see an Australian player winning MVP honors - the trajectory certainly suggests it's possible given the current momentum.
The rise of Australian basketball stars in the NBA represents more than just individual success stories - it's about an entire nation's basketball program reaching maturity and producing world-class talent consistently. Much like how that golf tournament's advancement criteria ensures only the most competitive players reach the final rounds, the global basketball landscape has its own natural selection process, and Australian players are not just participating but increasingly dominating certain aspects of the game. From where I stand, having watched this evolution unfold over the past two decades, the Australian basketball story in the NBA is one of the most compelling narratives in modern sports, and frankly, I don't think we've even seen its peak yet.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
– Sub-tropics – 80% of land achieving >50% perennial cover
– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover
– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
