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This year's NBA campaign tips off this week, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Aussie pair of most prominent basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence indicates a transition period, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for contending teams, with recently signed huge contracts making them some of the country's top sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for playing time around the league, ranging from experienced big men 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 Aiming to Show His Worth

Following lengthy negotiations with the Bulls, Giddey finally signed his new deal worth $100m (A$153 million) over four seasons last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and reputation as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the young star begins this year with a point to make.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last season, Giddey watched as his former squad stormed to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls aim to reach the postseason in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will have to demonstrate his shooting and defence are elite-level or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels signed the identical contract as his counterpart this week, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks player's career has skyrocketed in the city following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – over one whole steal per match higher than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be successful this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was below league average last year, and continue to enhance his passing and driving, he could become one of the league’s most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing the rookie has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a succession of highlight-reel slam dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics prompted NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe 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.

After logging just 8 mpg per game over 50 appearances in his debut season, the ex- college student is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards youth following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the June draft all the way to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are favourites to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be rare for a rookie drafted in the second round to see much court time. But the Australian has earned time in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a chance to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Veteran Quintet

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

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent minutes if the team become in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's off-season shoulder surgery has left him with no return date to return. The player still has a deal for next season, but won’t want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed key exhibition chances 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. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but appears to be primarily a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Fellow first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to win minutes 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 posted on his accounts recently, showing the 37-year-old remains in form and focused on landing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an break in his homeland, going fishing and using with a football. Although he posted on Instagram recently to deny suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.