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This year's National Basketball Association season starts this week, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's pair of biggest hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s highest sporting income generators.

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 promising rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following lengthy discussions with the Bulls, Giddey finally signed his rookie extension worth $100m (A$153 million) over four years recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it is affordable for Giddey’s position and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal means the young star begins this season with much to prove.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, he watched as his old team stormed to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the weaker East, he will need to show his shooting and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has taken off in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – more than one whole takeaway per match greater than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be successful this season as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was subpar last year, and keep develop his passing and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana forward Furphy has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a series of highlight-reel dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the mid-season dunk contest could be a possibility.

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

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor fell in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavaliers are favourites to reach the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a rookie drafted in the second round to see significant playing minutes. But the Australian has seen minutes in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a chance to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Ahead 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 be out for the start of the season after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent action if the team become competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a contract for next season, but won’t want to give his colleagues at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for important pre-season chances in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, game action this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned 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 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 slow cooker, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to earn minutes alongside his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

Should anyone question Patty Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a training clip shared on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the 37-year-old is still sharp and focused on securing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and playing with a Sherrin. Even though he posted on Instagram recently to deny rumors he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.