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This year's National Basketball Association season tips off now, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's two biggest hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s top athletic earners.

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

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

Following protracted discussions with the Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his new deal 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 reputation as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the young star enters this season with much to prove.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last season, he observed as his old team stormed to the title in his absence. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to show his shooting and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the same deal as Giddey this week, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks player's career has taken off in the city following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now lauded 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 higher than the tally of second place.

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

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana wing the rookie has emerged as a fan favourite in Indiana following a succession of spectacular slam dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays led NBA personality Pat Beverley to label him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the All-Star dunk contest could be a possibility.

Following logging just 8 mpg per game over 50 appearances in his debut season, the former college student is in the running for a Indiana lineup that might lean towards youth following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker the Sydney native dropped in the NBA Draft all the way to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers selected him. The Cavaliers are favourites to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be rare for a rookie taken in the second round to see much court time. But the Sydney product has seen time in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting gives him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Experienced Group

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting centre spot in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular minutes if the team find themselves competitive. 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 resulted in him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a contract for the upcoming year, but will not want to give his colleagues at the developing 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 chances in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, game action this year. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but appears to be primarily a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves 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 experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to earn playing time alongside Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a workout video shared on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran remains in form and determined on securing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, angling and playing with a football. 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 surface.