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This year's NBA campaign starts this week, signaling the initial occasion in a decade that Australia's pair of most prominent basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for contending teams, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of the country's top athletic income generators.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for playing time around the league, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

After lengthy discussions with the Bulls, Giddey ultimately signed his new deal worth US$100 million ($153m) over four years recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it is affordable for Giddey’s position and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the young star begins this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, Giddey watched as his former squad charged to the title without him. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the less competitive East, he will need to show his scoring and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard signed the identical contract as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Atlanta guard’s career has taken off in Atlanta following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – over one full takeaway per match higher than the tally of second place.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was subpar last year, and continue to develop his passing and attacking, Daniels could become one of the association's most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana wing the rookie has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a series of spectacular slam dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays prompted NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be on the table.

Following logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 appearances in his debut season, the former college player is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might favor youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard Proctor dropped in the June draft all the way to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are favourites to make the NBA finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a rookie taken in the second round to see much court time. But the Sydney product has earned time in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Experienced Group

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the season after ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular minutes if the team find themselves in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder procedure has left him with no return date to come back. The player still has a contract for the upcoming year, but will not want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important exhibition chances in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Then there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, court time this year. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but seems to be primarily a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Other rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to earn minutes alongside his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a training clip posted on his social media recently, showing the veteran is still in form and focused on securing another league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and playing with a football. Although he took to social media last month to deny rumors he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.