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

Their absence indicates a transition period, as Australian backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s top athletic income generators.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for playing time across the NBA, ranging from experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

After protracted negotiations with the Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his new deal worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four seasons recently. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is affordable for his role and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the young star enters this year with much to prove.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last season, he observed as his old team charged to the title in his absence. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his shooting and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard agreed to the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his MIP honor last season, the Atlanta guard’s trajectory has taken off in the city following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – over one full takeaway per game higher than the total of second place.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be successful this season as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was subpar last year, and continue to develop his distribution and driving, he could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing Furphy has emerged as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of highlight-reel slam dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the All-Star dunk contest could be a possibility.

After logging just eight minutes per game over 50 games in his debut season, the former college player is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might favor youth following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor fell in the NBA Draft all the way to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be unusual for a first-year player drafted in the second round to see much court time. But the Australian has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting offers him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting centre position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the opening of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent minutes if the team become competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's off-season shoulder surgery has left him with no return date to return. The 24-year-old still has a contract for the upcoming year, but will not want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive advantage. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for important pre-season opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, game action this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but appears to be primarily a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves 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 more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to win playing time with Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a training clip posted on his social media recently, showing the 37-year-old is still in form and focused on landing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and using with a Sherrin. Although he took to Instagram last month to reject rumors he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.