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The National Basketball Association season starts now, signaling the initial occasion in a decade that Aussie two most prominent hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s highest athletic earners.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for minutes 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 Aiming to Show His Worth

Following protracted discussions with the Bulls, the guard finally signed his new deal worth $100m ($153m) 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 primary ball-handler. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the young star enters this season with much to prove.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last season, he watched as his old team stormed to the title without him. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive East, he will have to show his shooting and defence are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels agreed to the same deal as Giddey this week, and after his MIP honor last year, the Atlanta player's trajectory has taken off in Atlanta following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and led the league in takeaways with three per game – over one full takeaway per match greater than the total of the runner-up.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be successful this campaign as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was below league average last season, and continue to enhance his passing and attacking, Daniels could become one of the association's most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers forward Furphy has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the All-Star dunk contest could be a possibility.

After playing just 8 mpg per game over 50 games in his debut season, the former college player is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might favor youth following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft all the way to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavaliers are favourites to make the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be unusual for a first-year player taken in the late picks to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has seen minutes in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting gives him a opportunity to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting five spot in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the season after a surgical procedure.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular minutes if the team become competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's summer shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a contract for the upcoming year, but won’t want to allow his teammates at the developing Charlotte an excessive head start. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed key pre-season chances in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Then there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, game action this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be primarily a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Other first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to earn minutes with his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a training clip shared on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran remains in form and determined on landing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an break in his homeland, angling and playing with a Sherrin. Although he posted on Instagram last month to deny suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.