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This year's National Basketball Association season tips off this week, marking the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's pair of biggest hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change signals a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with recently signed huge contracts establishing them as some of the country's top athletic earners.

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

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following lengthy negotiations with the Bulls, Giddey ultimately signed his new deal worth US$100 million ($153m) over four seasons last month. It's a major deal 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 young star begins this year with a point to make.

After being moved by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, Giddey watched as his former squad stormed to the title in his absence. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will have to show his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels agreed to the same deal as his counterpart recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Hawks guard’s career has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and led the league in steals with three per game – over one whole takeaway per match greater than the tally of the runner-up.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be successful this season as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was subpar last season, and keep develop his passing and driving, Daniels could become one of the association's most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers forward Furphy has emerged as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of highlight-reel dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics led league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be on the table.

Following logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the ex- college player is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might lean towards youth following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor fell in the June draft all the way to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be rare for a rookie drafted in the late picks to see much playing minutes. But the Sydney product has seen time in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting five position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the opening of the season after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular minutes if the team find themselves in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's summer shoulder procedure has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The player still has a contract for the upcoming year, but won’t want to allow his colleagues at the rebuilding Charlotte too much head start. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for important exhibition chances in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be primarily a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate 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 minutes alongside Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a training clip posted on his social media recently, demonstrating the veteran remains sharp and focused on securing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, angling and using with a football. Even though he took to social media recently to deny suggestions he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.