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

This change indicates 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 establishing them as some of the country's highest athletic income generators.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play 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 draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

After lengthy negotiations with the Bulls, Giddey ultimately inked his new deal worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four seasons recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is cheap for his role and profile as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the young star enters this year with much to prove.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the beginning of last campaign, Giddey watched as his old team stormed to the NBA championship without him. As the Chicago look to make the playoffs in the weaker East, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard agreed to the same deal as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Atlanta guard’s career has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and led the league in steals with three per game – over one whole takeaway per match greater than the total of second place.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be successful this season as a playmaking option 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 passing and attacking, he could become one of the association's most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers forward Furphy has emerged as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a succession of spectacular slam dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics led league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a while”, 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- college student is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards youth following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard the Sydney native fell in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are favourites to make the Finals from the Eastern Conference, 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 minutes in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting gives him a opportunity to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting five position in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular action if the Blazers find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive specialist in a reserve role.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The 24-year-old still has a deal for the upcoming year, but will not want to allow his colleagues at the developing Hornets an excessive head start. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for key exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Then there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, game action this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but seems to be primarily a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

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 Golden State Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to win minutes with 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 accounts recently, showing the veteran remains sharp and determined on securing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, going fishing and using with a football. Although he took to social media last month to reject rumors he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.