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This year's NBA season begins this week, marking the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's pair of most prominent hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of the country's highest sporting income generators.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for minutes around the league, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

After protracted negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his new deal worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four seasons last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it is cheap for his role and profile as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the young star enters this year with a point to make.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last season, Giddey watched as his former squad stormed to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his shooting and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard signed the same deal as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks player's trajectory 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 led the league in steals with three per game – more than one full steal per match higher than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be successful this campaign as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was below league average last season, and continue to develop his passing and driving, he could become one of the association's most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers wing the rookie has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in Indiana following a series of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be on the table.

Following playing just eight minutes per game over 50 appearances in his debut season, the ex- college student is in contention for a Pacers rotation that might favor young players following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard Proctor dropped in the June draft all the way to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavaliers are favourites to make the NBA finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player taken in the late picks to see much court time. But the Sydney product has seen time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Experienced Group

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting five position in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent action if the team find themselves competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's off-season shoulder procedure has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The player still has a contract for next season, but will not want to give his teammates at the developing Hornets an excessive head start. 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 Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but seems to be little more than a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago 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 with Proctor 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 answered them with a training clip shared on his accounts recently, demonstrating the veteran is still in form and focused on landing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and using with a football. Even though he took to Instagram last month to reject rumors he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.