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This year's NBA campaign starts now, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's two biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for playoff aspirants, with recently signed nine-figure contracts making them some of the country's top sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for minutes across the NBA, ranging from veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

After protracted negotiations with the Bulls, the guard finally inked his rookie extension worth US$100 million ($153m) over four years last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is affordable for Giddey’s position and reputation as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the young star begins this season with much to prove.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, Giddey watched as his old team stormed to the title in his absence. As the Bulls aim to reach the postseason in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will have to show his shooting and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard agreed to the same deal as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks player's trajectory has taken off in the city following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – more than one whole takeaway per game greater than the total of the runner-up.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be successful this season as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was below league average last year, and keep develop his passing and driving, Daniels could become one of the association's most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers forward Furphy has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

After logging just eight minutes per game over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the ex- Maribyrnong College student is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might lean towards young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard Proctor dropped in the June draft down to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavs are favourites to make the NBA finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player drafted in the second round to see much court time. But the Sydney product has seen time in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting gives him a chance to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting five spot in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent action if the Blazers find themselves in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive spark off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder surgery has resulted in him with no return date to return. The 24-year-old still has a deal for next season, but will not want to give his teammates 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 key exhibition opportunities in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but seems to be primarily a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Fellow first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to win minutes alongside Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a training clip posted on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran is still in form and focused on securing one more league deal.

Simmons' intentions is anyone’s guess after an break in Australia, angling and using with a football. Even though he posted on social media last month to reject suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.