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This year's National Basketball Association campaign tips off now, signaling the first time in a ten years that Aussie pair of biggest hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for contending teams, with recently signed nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of the country's top sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians 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 promising draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

After protracted negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, the guard ultimately inked his new deal worth $100m (A$153 million) over four seasons last month. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it is affordable 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.

After being moved 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 Chicago look to reach the postseason in the weaker East, he will have to demonstrate his scoring and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Hawks player's trajectory has taken off in Atlanta following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in steals with 3.0 spg – over one full steal per game greater than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was subpar last season, and continue to develop his passing and attacking, Daniels could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

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

After logging just eight minutes per game over 50 games in his debut season, the former Maribyrnong College student is in contention for a Indiana lineup that might lean towards young players following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard the Sydney native dropped in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to reach the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player taken in the second round to see significant court time. But the Australian has seen minutes in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting five spot in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent minutes if the team become in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's off-season shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to come back. The 24-year-old still has a contract for the upcoming year, but won’t want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte too much head start. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed 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, game action this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but seems to be little more than a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Other rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to win minutes alongside his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a training clip posted on his social media over the weekend, demonstrating the 37-year-old remains in form and determined on landing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an break in Australia, going fishing and using with a football. Although he posted on Instagram last month to reject suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.