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The National Basketball Association campaign tips off now, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Aussie pair of most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for contending teams, with recently signed nine-figure contracts making them some of the country's highest sporting income generators.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for minutes around the league, ranging from veteran centres 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 protracted discussions with the Bulls, Giddey finally 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 primary ball-handler. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old begins this season with much to prove.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, he observed as his old team stormed to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his shooting and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels agreed to the identical contract as Giddey this week, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Hawks guard’s career has taken off in Atlanta 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 takeaways with three per game – more than one whole takeaway per game higher than the total of second place.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was below league average last season, and keep enhance his passing and driving, he could become one of the league’s most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing the rookie has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a succession of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics led league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the former college student is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might favor young players following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard Proctor dropped in the June draft down to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to reach the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player drafted in the late picks to see much playing minutes. But the Sydney product has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting centre position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular minutes if the team find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's off-season shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to come back. The 24-year-old still has a deal for next season, but won’t want to give his colleagues at the developing Hornets an excessive head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed important pre-season opportunities in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, court time this year. Veteran Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but seems to be little more than a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by the Wolves through their G-League team. Other rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the more seasoned 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 set to retire, he answered them with a workout video posted on his accounts recently, showing the veteran is still in form and focused on landing another league deal.

Simmons' intentions is anyone’s guess after an break in Australia, going fishing and using with a football. Although he posted on Instagram recently to deny rumors he was done, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.