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This year's NBA season begins now, signaling the first time in a decade that Australia's pair of biggest hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change indicates a transition period, as Australian backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for contending teams, with recently signed nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s top athletic income generators.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play for playing time around the league, ranging from experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings 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 rookie extension worth $100m (A$153 million) over four seasons last month. 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.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, Giddey watched as his old team stormed to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Chicago aim to reach the postseason in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will have to show his shooting and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Atlanta guard’s career has taken off in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and topped the league in steals with 3.0 spg – more than one full steal per match greater than the total of the runner-up.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be successful this season as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was subpar last season, and keep develop his passing and driving, he could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

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

Following logging just 8 mpg per contest over 50 appearances in his debut season, the former Maribyrnong College student is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might favor youth following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker the Sydney native fell in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers selected him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to reach the Finals from the East, 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 exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting five position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the start of the season after ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular minutes if the Blazers find themselves in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to return. The 24-year-old still has a deal for next season, but won’t want to give his colleagues at the rebuilding Hornets an excessive advantage. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for key exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, game action this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be little more than a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by the Wolves through their G-League 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 hoping to earn minutes alongside Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a training clip shared on his accounts recently, demonstrating the veteran is still sharp and focused on securing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, angling and using with a Sherrin. Even though he took to social media last month to reject rumors he was done, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.