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This year's NBA season starts this week, signaling the first time in a decade that Australia's two most prominent hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

Their absence signals a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s top athletic income generators.

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

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

After protracted negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey ultimately signed his new deal worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four years last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and profile as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old begins this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the start of last season, he observed as his former squad charged to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls look to reach the postseason in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard agreed to the same deal as his counterpart recently, and after his MIP honor last season, the Hawks player's trajectory has skyrocketed in the city following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with three per game – over one full steal per match higher than the tally of second place.

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 Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was below league average last season, and keep enhance his passing and driving, Daniels could become one of the league’s most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers forward Furphy has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of spectacular slam dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the mid-season dunk contest could be a possibility.

After logging just 8 mpg per game over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the ex- Maribyrnong College student is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might favor young players following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard the Sydney native fell in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers selected him. The Cavs 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 playing minutes. But the Sydney product has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting offers him a opportunity to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Experienced Group

Seasoned big man 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 ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular action if the Blazers find themselves in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s summer shoulder surgery has left him with no return date to come back. The 24-year-old still has a contract for next season, but will not want to give his colleagues at the developing Charlotte too much advantage. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players 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 returned in the Timberwolves, but seems to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Other first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to win playing time with Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a workout video shared on his social media recently, showing the veteran is still in form and determined on landing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in Australia, angling and playing with a football. Although he took to social media recently to reject rumors he was retired, the former All-Star – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.