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The NBA season tips off this week, marking the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's pair of most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence signals a transition period, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s top athletic income generators.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for playing time across the NBA, ranging from veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

Following lengthy discussions with the Chicago Bulls, the guard ultimately inked his rookie extension worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four seasons recently. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it is cheap for Giddey’s position and profile as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old begins this year with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, he watched as his former squad charged to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls aim to reach the postseason in the less competitive East, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defence are elite-level or else he may slide towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart this week, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Hawks player's career has taken off in the city following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in steals with 3.0 spg – more than one whole steal per match greater than the tally of second place.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be successful this campaign as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was subpar last season, and continue to enhance his passing and driving, he could become one of the league’s most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers forward Furphy has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the All-Star dunk contest could be a possibility.

Following playing just eight minutes per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the ex- Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Pacers lineup that might favor youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the June draft down to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavaliers are favourites to reach the NBA finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a rookie drafted in the late picks to see significant playing minutes. But the Australian has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Experienced Group

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting five position in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the opening of the season after a surgical procedure.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular action if the Blazers become 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 off-season shoulder surgery has left him with no return date to come back. The player still has a contract for next season, but will not want to give his teammates at the rebuilding Hornets too much head start. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed key exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Additionally, 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 appears to be primarily a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Fellow first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to win playing time with Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

Should anyone question Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a training clip shared on his social media recently, showing the veteran remains in form and determined on landing another NBA contract.

Simmons' intentions is uncertain after an break in Australia, going fishing and playing with a Sherrin. Even though he posted on Instagram last month to reject rumors he was done, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.