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This year's NBA campaign begins now, marking the first time in a ten years that Australia's two biggest hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of the country's top athletic earners.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for playing time around the league, ranging from experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following protracted negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey finally signed his rookie extension worth $100m ($153m) over four seasons last month. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and profile as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this season with a point to make.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, he watched as his former squad stormed to the title in his absence. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the weaker East, he will have to show his scoring and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels signed the identical contract as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Atlanta player's career has taken off in Atlanta following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in takeaways with three per game – over one whole takeaway per match higher than the tally of the runner-up.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this season as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was subpar last year, and keep enhance his distribution and attacking, he could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing Furphy has emerged as a fan favourite in the state following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics prompted NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following logging just eight minutes per game over 50 games in his debut season, the ex- Maribyrnong College player is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards youth following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft all the way to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland picked him. The Cavaliers are favourites to make the Finals from the East, so it would be rare for a rookie drafted in the late picks to see much court time. But the Sydney product has earned time in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting gives him a chance to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Experienced Group

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting five position in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular minutes if the team become in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's summer shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to return. The player still has a contract for next season, but won’t want to give his teammates at the developing Hornets an excessive head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for key exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Then there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but appears to be primarily a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Other first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to win playing time alongside Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a workout video shared on his social media over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old is still in form and determined on landing another league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in Australia, going fishing and using with a Sherrin. Even though he posted on social media recently to reject suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.