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This year's NBA campaign tips off this week, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Aussie two most prominent basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

Their absence indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for contending teams, with recently signed nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of the country's highest athletic earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for minutes 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 rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following lengthy discussions with the Bulls, the guard finally inked his rookie extension worth $100m (A$153 million) over four years last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it is cheap for his role and profile as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old begins this year with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last season, Giddey watched as his old team stormed to the title without him. As the Chicago look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will have to show his shooting and defence are elite-level or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Atlanta player's career has taken off in the city following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now lauded 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 tally of second place.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be successful this season as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was below league average last season, and keep develop his distribution and attacking, he could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana wing the rookie has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following playing just 8 mpg per game over 50 games in his debut season, the ex- Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Pacers lineup that might favor young players following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard Proctor fell in the NBA Draft all the way to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavaliers are favourites to make the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player taken in the second round to see significant court time. But the Australian has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting five spot in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the start of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent minutes if the team find themselves in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive specialist in a reserve role.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s summer shoulder surgery has resulted in him with no return date to come back. The 24-year-old still has a contract for the upcoming year, but won’t want to allow his colleagues at the rebuilding Hornets an excessive advantage. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important pre-season chances in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Then there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but seems to be primarily a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League team. Other first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to earn playing time with Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a training clip shared on his accounts recently, demonstrating the veteran remains in form and focused on securing one more league deal.

Simmons' intentions is uncertain after an break in Australia, angling and playing with a football. Although he posted on Instagram last month to reject suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.