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This year's National Basketball Association season tips off now, marking the first time in a ten years that Australia's pair of biggest basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new huge contracts making them some of the country's highest athletic earners.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play for playing time around the league, 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 discussions with the Bulls, the guard finally inked his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four seasons last month. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is cheap for his role and reputation as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the young star enters this season with much to prove.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, he observed as his old team stormed to the title without him. As the Bulls look to reach the postseason in the weaker East, he will have to demonstrate his scoring and defence 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 this week, and after his MIP honor last season, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has taken off in Atlanta following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – over one full takeaway per game greater than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be successful this season as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was subpar last year, and continue to enhance his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing Furphy has emerged as a crowd favorite in the state following a series of spectacular slam 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 invite to the All-Star slam dunk competition 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 the running for a Indiana lineup that might favor young players following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker the Sydney native dropped in the June draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders 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 second round to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has seen time in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting gives him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Experienced Group

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting five spot in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the opening of the season after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent action if the team become in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive specialist in a reserve role.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's summer shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The 24-year-old still has a deal for the upcoming year, but will not want to give his colleagues at the developing Charlotte too much head start. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed key exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, court time this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but appears to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

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

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a training clip shared on his accounts recently, demonstrating the veteran remains sharp and determined on securing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, angling and playing with a football. Although he posted on social media last month to reject rumors he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.