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This year's NBA campaign begins this week, signaling the first time in a ten years that Australia's pair of biggest hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Australian backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for contending teams, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s top sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for minutes around the league, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following lengthy negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, the guard finally signed his new deal worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four years recently. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance 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 Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, he observed as his old team charged to the title in his absence. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to show his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard agreed to the same deal as Giddey recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in the city following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – over one whole steal per game higher than the tally of second place.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be effective this campaign as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was subpar last year, and keep develop his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers forward the rookie has emerged as a fan favourite in the state following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics prompted 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 slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following playing just 8 mpg per game over 50 games in his debut season, the former Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Pacers lineup that might favor youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the June draft all the way to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to reach the NBA finals from the East, so it would be rare for a first-year player drafted in the second round to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has earned minutes in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting offers him a opportunity to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting centre 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 experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent minutes if the Blazers find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's summer shoulder procedure has left him with no return date to return. The player still has a deal for the upcoming year, but will not want to give his colleagues at the developing Hornets an excessive advantage. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed key pre-season chances in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but appears to be primarily a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to earn playing time with Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

Should anyone question Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a workout video posted on his accounts over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old remains in form and determined on landing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an break in his homeland, going fishing and using with a football. Even though he posted on social media recently to deny rumors he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.