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

This change signals 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 highest sporting income generators.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for playing time across the NBA, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

Following lengthy discussions with the Bulls, the guard finally inked his new deal worth US$100 million ($153m) over four years recently. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, he watched as his old team stormed to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the less competitive East, he will have to demonstrate his scoring and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may slide towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – over one whole steal per game greater than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old 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 three-point shooting, which was subpar last season, and continue to enhance his distribution and attacking, he could become one of the association's most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a series of spectacular dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics led NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

After playing just 8 mpg per contest over 50 games in his debut season, the former college student is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might lean towards youth 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 Eastern Conference, so it would be unusual for a first-year player drafted in the second round to see much playing minutes. But the Australian has seen minutes in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting centre spot in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

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

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s summer shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to come back. The 24-year-old still has a contract for the upcoming year, but will not want to give his teammates at the rebuilding Hornets too much advantage. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed key pre-season opportunities in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Then there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, court time this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but appears to be primarily a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Fellow rookies 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 hoping to earn minutes alongside his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a training clip posted on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran is still sharp and focused on landing another league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, angling and using with a football. Although he took to social media recently to deny rumors he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.