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The NBA season starts now, signaling the first time in a ten years that Australia's pair of biggest hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Australian backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new huge contracts making them some of Australia’s top athletic earners.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for minutes across the NBA, 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

After protracted discussions with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey finally signed his rookie extension worth $100m ($153m) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is affordable for his role and profile as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the young star enters this year with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, Giddey observed as his former squad stormed to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Chicago aim to make the playoffs in the weaker East, he will have to show his scoring and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels signed the same deal as his counterpart this week, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Atlanta guard’s trajectory has taken off in the city following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised 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 total of the runner-up.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be effective this season as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was subpar last year, and continue to develop his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

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

After logging just eight minutes per game over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the ex- Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Indiana lineup that might favor young players following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker the Sydney native dropped in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers selected him. The Cavaliers are favourites to reach the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a rookie taken in the second round to see significant playing minutes. But the Australian has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting offers him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting centre spot in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent action if the team become in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder procedure has resulted in him with no return date to return. The 24-year-old still has a contract for the upcoming year, but will not want to give his colleagues at the rebuilding Hornets an excessive head start. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed key pre-season chances in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Other rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to earn playing time with Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a training clip shared on his social media recently, showing the veteran remains sharp and determined on securing another league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, angling and using with a football. Although he posted on social media last month to reject rumors he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.