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The NBA campaign starts this week, marking the initial occasion in a decade that Aussie pair of most prominent basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Australian backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of the country's top athletic income generators.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for playing time around the league, ranging from veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following lengthy negotiations with the Bulls, Giddey ultimately signed his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is affordable for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal 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 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 need to show his shooting and defence are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels signed the identical contract as Giddey this week, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Hawks player's career has skyrocketed in the city following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – more than one whole steal per game greater than the total of the runner-up.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old 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 three-point shooting, which was subpar last season, and keep develop his distribution and driving, Daniels could become one of the league’s most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers wing the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of highlight-reel slam dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics prompted 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 slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

After playing just eight minutes per contest over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College player is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might favor young players following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker the Sydney native dropped in the June draft all the way to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the Finals from the East, so it would be rare for a rookie drafted in the late picks to see much court time. But the Australian has seen minutes in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting centre position in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the start of the season after ankle surgery.

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 competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s summer shoulder procedure has left him without a timeline to return. The player still has a contract for the upcoming year, but will not want to allow his colleagues at the developing Hornets an excessive advantage. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed important exhibition chances in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, court time this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be little more than a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to earn minutes 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 workout video shared on his accounts over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old remains sharp and focused on securing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an break in his homeland, going fishing and playing with a Sherrin. Although he took to Instagram recently to reject rumors he was retired, the former All-Star – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.