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The NBA season begins now, marking the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's pair of biggest basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for playoff aspirants, with recently signed nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s top sporting income generators.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play for minutes around the league, 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 lengthy negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, the guard ultimately inked his rookie extension worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is cheap for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal means the young star enters this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, Giddey observed as his old team stormed to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the weaker East, he will have to show his scoring and defence are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels agreed to the same deal as Giddey recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Atlanta player's career has taken off in Atlanta following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with three per game – more than one whole takeaway per match higher than the tally of second place.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this season as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was below league average last year, and keep develop his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers forward Furphy has emerged as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of highlight-reel slam dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following playing just 8 mpg per contest over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College student is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might lean towards youth following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor fell in the June draft down to the second round, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers selected him. The Cavs are front-runners to reach the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a rookie drafted in the late picks to see much playing minutes. But the Australian has earned minutes in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting centre position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the opening of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

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

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 contract for the upcoming year, but will not want to allow his colleagues at the developing Charlotte too much head start. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed key exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely 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 big brother keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League team. Other first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to win minutes with his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

Should anyone question Patty Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a workout video posted on his accounts over the weekend, showing the veteran remains in form and determined on securing another league deal.

Simmons' intentions is uncertain after an break in Australia, going fishing and using with a football. Although he took to social media last month to deny suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.