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The National Basketball Association season starts this week, signaling the first time in a ten years that Australia's pair of most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of the country's top sporting earners.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete 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 Aiming to Show His Worth

After lengthy discussions with the Bulls, Giddey finally signed his new deal worth US$100 million ($153m) over four years recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and reputation as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this year with much to prove.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, Giddey watched as his former squad charged to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls aim to reach the postseason in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will have to demonstrate his scoring 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 Giddey this week, and after his MIP honor last season, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has taken off in the city following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and led the league in takeaways with three per game – over one whole takeaway per game greater than the tally of the runner-up.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was below league average last season, and keep develop his passing and attacking, he could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana forward Furphy has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a succession of spectacular dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics led NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the mid-season dunk contest could be on the table.

Following logging just 8 mpg per contest over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the former college student is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might favor young players following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor fell in the June draft all the way to the second round, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavs are favourites to make the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player drafted in the second round to see significant playing minutes. But the Australian has earned time in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting gives him a chance to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting five position in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the start of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular minutes if the Blazers find themselves competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s summer shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a contract for the upcoming year, but won’t want to give his colleagues at the developing Hornets too much advantage. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important exhibition chances in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, game action this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but appears to be little more than a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Other first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to earn playing time with his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a training clip posted on his accounts over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old is still in form and determined on securing another league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, going fishing and playing with a football. Although he took to social media recently to deny suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.