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The National Basketball Association season starts now, signaling the first time in a decade that Australia's pair of biggest hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for contending teams, with recently signed nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s top sporting income generators.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for minutes across the NBA, 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 Aiming to Show His Worth

Following lengthy negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey ultimately signed his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is affordable for Giddey’s position and reputation as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old begins this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, he observed as his old team charged to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels agreed to the same deal as his counterpart this week, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Atlanta guard’s trajectory has taken off in Atlanta following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and topped the league in steals with three per game – over one whole steal per game greater than the tally of second place.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be effective this season as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was subpar last year, and continue to enhance his distribution and driving, he could become one of the league’s most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana wing Furphy has emerged as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays prompted 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 on the table.

After logging just 8 mpg per game over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former college student is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard the Sydney native fell in the June draft down to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are favourites to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be rare for a rookie taken in the second round to see much playing minutes. But the Australian has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting gives him a chance to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting centre spot in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the season after ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent action if the team become in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s summer shoulder procedure has resulted in him with no return date to come back. The player still has a deal for next season, but will not want to give his colleagues at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive head start. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for important exhibition chances in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, court time this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Other first-year players 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 earn playing time with Proctor 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 shared on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the 37-year-old remains in form and determined on securing one more league deal.

Simmons' intentions is uncertain after an off-season in Australia, angling and using with a football. Even though he took to social media last month to deny rumors he was done, the former All-Star – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.