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The National Basketball Association season begins this week, signaling the first time in a decade that Aussie pair of biggest basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

Their absence indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s top sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for playing time across the NBA, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

After protracted negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, the guard finally signed his new deal worth $100m (A$153 million) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it is affordable for Giddey’s position and reputation as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the young star begins this season with much to prove.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, Giddey observed as his old team charged to the title without him. As the Chicago look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defence are elite-level or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels signed the identical contract as Giddey this week, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks player's trajectory has skyrocketed in the city following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – over one whole takeaway per game higher than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be successful this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was below league average last year, and continue to develop his distribution and attacking, he could become one of the association's most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a succession of spectacular slam dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics prompted league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the All-Star dunk contest could be a possibility.

After logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College student is in the running for a Pacers lineup that might lean towards youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard Proctor fell in the NBA Draft all the way to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavs are front-runners to reach the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a rookie taken in the second round to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has seen time in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Experienced Group

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting five position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent minutes if the team find themselves in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s summer shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a deal for next season, but will not want to give his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, court time this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but seems to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League team. Other rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to earn minutes with his compatriot 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 social media over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old is still in form and determined on landing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and playing with a Sherrin. Even though he took to Instagram recently to deny rumors he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.