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This year's NBA campaign begins now, marking the first time in a ten years that Aussie pair of biggest basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

Their absence signals a changing of the guard, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for contending teams, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s highest sporting income generators.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for minutes across the NBA, ranging from veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

After protracted discussions with the Bulls, the guard finally signed his new deal worth $100m (A$153 million) over four seasons recently. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old enters this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, Giddey watched as his former squad stormed to the title without him. As the Chicago look to make the playoffs in the less competitive East, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels agreed to the identical contract as Giddey this week, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Atlanta guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and topped the league in takeaways with three per game – more than one whole takeaway per game greater than the total of the runner-up.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be successful this season as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was below league average last season, and continue to develop his distribution and driving, Daniels could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing the rookie has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics prompted NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be on the table.

After logging just 8 mpg per game over 50 appearances in his debut season, the ex- college player is in contention for a Pacers lineup that might lean towards youth following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker the Sydney native dropped in the June draft down to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavaliers are favourites to reach the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a rookie taken in the late picks to see significant court time. But the Australian has seen minutes in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting five position in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the opening of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular action if the Blazers find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's off-season shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to come back. The 24-year-old still has a deal for next season, but will not want to give his colleagues at the developing Hornets an excessive head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed key pre-season chances in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but seems to be little more than a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to win playing time with his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a training clip posted on his social media recently, demonstrating the 37-year-old is still in form and determined on landing another league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in Australia, angling and using with a football. Even though he took to Instagram recently to deny rumors he was done, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.