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This year's NBA campaign begins this week, marking the first time in a ten years that Australia's 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 step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of the country's highest sporting income generators.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete 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

Following protracted discussions with the Bulls, the guard finally signed his new deal worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four years recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and profile as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old enters this year with much to prove.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last season, Giddey watched as his old team stormed to the NBA championship without him. As the Chicago aim to reach the postseason in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will have to demonstrate his shooting and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels signed the same deal as Giddey this week, and after his MIP honor last year, the Hawks player's trajectory has taken off in the city following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and topped the league in takeaways with three per game – more than one whole steal per match greater than the tally of the runner-up.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be successful this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was subpar last year, and keep develop his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers forward Furphy has emerged as a fan favourite in Indiana following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics prompted NBA personality Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be on the table.

After logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the ex- Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Pacers rotation that might favor youth following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the June draft all the way to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the Finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a rookie taken in the late picks to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has seen time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the season after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent minutes if the Blazers find themselves in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's summer shoulder procedure has resulted in him with no return date to return. The player still has a contract for the upcoming year, but will not want to allow his colleagues at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive advantage. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed key pre-season opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Then there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, game action this year. Veteran Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but seems to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League team. Other first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to win playing time alongside his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a workout video shared on his accounts over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old remains in form and focused on landing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and using with a Sherrin. Although he took to social media recently to deny suggestions he was done, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.