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This year's NBA season begins now, marking the first time in a ten years that Australia's pair of 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 emerge as key starters for contending teams, with recently signed huge contracts establishing them as some of the country's top athletic income generators.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for minutes across the NBA, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

Following protracted negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey ultimately signed his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four seasons last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and reputation as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old begins this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last season, Giddey observed as his former squad stormed to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls aim to reach the postseason 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

Daniels agreed to the same deal as his counterpart recently, and after his MIP honor last season, the Atlanta player's career has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and topped the league in steals with three per game – more than one full takeaway per match higher than the total of second place.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be successful this campaign as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was below league average last year, and continue to develop his distribution and attacking, he could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of spectacular slam dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics led league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following playing just eight minutes per game over 50 games in his debut season, the ex- college student is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might favor young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the June draft down to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers selected him. The Cavaliers are favourites to make the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player taken in the late picks to see much court time. But the Sydney product has seen time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Experienced Group

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting five position in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent action if the Blazers become in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a deal for next season, but will not want to allow his colleagues at the developing Charlotte too much head start. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, game action this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be primarily a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League team. Other rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to win playing time alongside Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a workout video posted on his accounts over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old is still in form and focused on landing one more league deal.

Simmons' intentions is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, angling and playing with a football. Even though he posted on Instagram recently to deny suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.