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This year's NBA season tips off this week, signaling the first time in a ten years that Aussie pair of biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Australian backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for playoff aspirants, with recently signed nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s top athletic income generators.

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, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following lengthy discussions with the Chicago Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his rookie extension worth $100m (A$153 million) over four years last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and profile as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old enters this year with much to prove.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, Giddey observed as his old team stormed to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the less competitive East, he will have to show his scoring and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels signed the identical contract as his counterpart this week, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks player's trajectory has taken off in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in steals with three per game – over one whole steal per match higher than the total of the runner-up.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be effective this season as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was below league average last season, and keep develop his passing and attacking, he could become one of the league’s most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana forward the rookie has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of spectacular dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays prompted NBA personality Pat Beverley to label him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be on the table.

Following logging just 8 mpg per contest over 50 games in his debut season, the former college student 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 the Sydney native fell in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are favourites to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player taken in the second round to see significant playing minutes. But the Australian has earned time in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting five spot in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the opening of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular action if the team find themselves in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive specialist in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's summer shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The 24-year-old still has a deal for next season, but won’t want to give his colleagues at the developing Charlotte too much head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for key exhibition chances in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, game action this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but seems to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to win playing time with Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a training clip shared on his social media over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran remains sharp and focused on landing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and playing with a football. Although he posted on social media recently to reject suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.