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The National Basketball Association season begins now, signaling the initial occasion in a decade that Australia's two biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of the country's highest athletic income generators.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for minutes across the NBA, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

After protracted discussions with the Bulls, Giddey finally inked his rookie extension worth $100m ($153m) over four years recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and reputation as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal means the young star enters this season with a point to make.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, he watched as his old team charged to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his shooting and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels signed the same deal as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with three per game – over one whole steal per match greater than the tally of second place.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be successful this season as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was below league average last year, and continue to enhance his passing and driving, he could become one of the league’s most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana forward Furphy has emerged as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to label 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.

Following logging just eight minutes per game over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the former college student is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might favor young players following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker the Sydney native fell in the June draft down to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavs are favourites to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be rare for a first-year player taken in the late picks to see much court time. But the Sydney product has earned minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a opportunity to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Experienced Group

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

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent minutes if the Blazers find themselves in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s summer shoulder procedure has left him without a timeline to come back. The 24-year-old still has a contract for the upcoming year, but won’t want to give his colleagues at the rebuilding Hornets too much advantage. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed key exhibition opportunities in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but seems to be primarily a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Fellow 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 hoping to earn minutes alongside his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

Should anyone question Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a workout video shared on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran is still sharp and determined on securing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and using with a football. Even though he posted on Instagram recently to reject rumors he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.