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The National Basketball Association campaign tips off now, marking the first time in a ten years that Aussie two most prominent hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

Their absence indicates a transition period, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s highest athletic earners.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for minutes around the league, including 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 Aiming to Show His Worth

Following protracted negotiations with the Bulls, Giddey ultimately inked his rookie extension worth $100m (A$153 million) over four seasons recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is cheap for his role and profile as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old begins this season with a point to make.

After being moved by the Thunder at the start of last season, he watched as his old team charged to the title without him. As the Chicago aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive East, he will need to show his shooting and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels signed the same deal as his counterpart this week, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Hawks guard’s career has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – more than one whole takeaway per match higher than the tally of second place.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be effective 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 subpar last season, and continue to enhance his distribution and driving, he could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana wing the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in the state following a series of spectacular dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays led 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 on the table.

Following logging just 8 mpg per game over 50 games in his debut season, the former Maribyrnong College student is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards young players following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft all the way to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavaliers are favourites to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player taken in the late picks to see much court time. But the Sydney product has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting offers him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Experienced Group

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 season after a surgical procedure.

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

In the Hornets, Josh Green's summer shoulder procedure has left him with no return date to come back. The player still has a deal for the upcoming year, but will not want to give his teammates at the developing Charlotte an excessive head start. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed important exhibition chances in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, game action this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but appears to be primarily a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Fellow first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to earn playing time alongside his compatriot 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 training clip posted on his social media recently, demonstrating the 37-year-old remains sharp and focused on securing another league deal.

Simmons' intentions is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and using with a football. Although he posted on Instagram recently to reject suggestions he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.