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This year's NBA campaign tips off this week, signaling the initial occasion in a decade that Aussie pair of biggest 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 step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s highest athletic income generators.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for minutes around the league, ranging from experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following lengthy discussions with the Chicago Bulls, the guard ultimately inked his rookie extension worth $100m ($153m) over four seasons last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and profile as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the young star enters this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the beginning of last campaign, Giddey observed as his former squad stormed to the title in his absence. As the Bulls aim to reach the postseason in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his shooting and defence are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels agreed to the same deal as Giddey this week, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in the city following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with three per game – more than one whole takeaway per game higher than the total of second place.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be successful 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 below league average last season, and keep enhance his passing and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana wing 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 label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the All-Star dunk contest could be on the table.

Following playing just 8 mpg per game over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College student is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might favor youth following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft down to the second round, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavaliers are favourites to reach the NBA finals from the East, so it would be rare for a first-year player drafted in the late picks to see much playing minutes. But the Australian has earned time in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting offers him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Experienced Group

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting five position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the start of the season after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent minutes if the team find themselves in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's off-season shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The player still has a contract for the upcoming year, but won’t want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed important pre-season chances in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers 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 seems to be primarily a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

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 development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to win minutes alongside Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a workout video posted on his social media recently, showing the 37-year-old is still sharp and focused on securing another NBA contract.

Simmons' intentions is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and using with a football. Although he took to Instagram last month to deny suggestions he was retired, the former All-Star – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.