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This year's NBA campaign begins this week, marking the initial occasion in a decade that Australia's pair of most prominent basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence signals a changing of the guard, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for contending teams, with recently signed huge contracts making them some of the country's top sporting earners.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for minutes around the league, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

Following lengthy negotiations with the Bulls, Giddey ultimately inked his new deal worth US$100 million ($153m) over four seasons recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is affordable for Giddey’s position 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 Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, Giddey observed as his former squad stormed to the title without him. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the weaker East, he will need to show his shooting and defence are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard signed the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Hawks player's trajectory has taken off in Atlanta following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and topped the league in takeaways with three per game – more than one whole steal per match higher than the total of the runner-up.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was subpar last year, and keep enhance his distribution and driving, Daniels could become one of the league’s most well-rounded talents.

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 highlight-reel dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper 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- Maribyrnong College student is in contention for a Pacers rotation that might favor youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavs are favourites to make the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a rookie drafted in the second round to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Experienced Group

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting centre position in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the start 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 consistent minutes if the team find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive spark off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's summer shoulder procedure has left him with no return date to come back. The player 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 problem and has been absent for important pre-season opportunities in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, game action this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems 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 rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to win 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 addressed it with a workout video posted on his social media over the weekend, showing the veteran is still in form and focused on landing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and using with a football. Although he took to social media last month to reject suggestions he was done, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.