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This year's National Basketball Association campaign starts this week, signaling the first time in a ten years that Australia's two biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for contending teams, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s highest athletic earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for playing time around the league, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

After lengthy negotiations with the Bulls, the guard finally inked his rookie extension worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four years last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is affordable for his role and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old begins this season with much to prove.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last season, Giddey watched as his old team charged to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the same deal as Giddey this week, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Atlanta player's career has taken off in the city following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and led the league in steals with three per game – over one full takeaway per match greater than the tally of second place.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be effective this season as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was below league average last year, and continue to enhance his passing and attacking, he could become one of the league’s most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana wing Furphy has emerged as a fan favourite in Indiana following a succession of highlight-reel slam dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays led NBA personality Pat Beverley to label him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the mid-season dunk contest could be a possibility.

After logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the ex- college student is in contention for a Indiana lineup that might lean towards young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard the Sydney native dropped in the June draft down to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are favourites to reach the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player drafted in the late picks to see much playing minutes. But the Sydney product has seen minutes in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting gives him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the opening of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent action if the Blazers find themselves in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's summer shoulder procedure has resulted in him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a contract for next season, but will not want to give his colleagues at the developing Hornets an excessive head start. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for important exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, court time this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but seems to be little more than a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by the Wolves through their affiliate 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 hoping to earn playing time alongside Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a training clip posted on his social media recently, demonstrating the 37-year-old remains sharp and focused on securing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an break in Australia, angling and playing with a football. Even though he posted on social media last month to deny suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.