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This year's NBA campaign starts now, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's pair of biggest hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

Their absence indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for playoff aspirants, with recently signed nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s top sporting earners.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for minutes across the NBA, including 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 Aiming to Show His Worth

After protracted discussions with the Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his new deal worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is affordable for his role and profile as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old enters this year with much to prove.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, Giddey observed as his former squad charged to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls look to reach the postseason in the less competitive East, he will need to demonstrate his shooting and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Atlanta player's career has taken off in Atlanta following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in steals with 3.0 spg – more than one full takeaway per game greater than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be successful this campaign as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was subpar last season, and continue to develop his passing and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing the rookie has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in Indiana following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics prompted league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the All-Star dunk contest could be on the table.

Following playing just eight minutes per contest over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the ex- college student is in the running for a Pacers lineup that might lean towards young players following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker the Sydney native fell in the June draft down to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to make the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player drafted in the late picks to see much playing minutes. But the Sydney product has seen minutes in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a opportunity to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

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

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent action if the team become in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's off-season shoulder procedure has resulted in him without a timeline to come back. The 24-year-old still has a deal for next season, but will not want to allow his teammates at the developing Hornets an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed key exhibition chances in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, game action this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Other first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to win minutes alongside his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

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 shared on his social media recently, demonstrating the 37-year-old remains sharp and determined on landing 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. Even though he took to Instagram recently to deny rumors he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.