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This year's NBA season starts now, marking the first time in a ten years that Australia's pair of most prominent basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new huge 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 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 protracted discussions with the Chicago Bulls, the guard finally signed his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years recently. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it is cheap for his role and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal means the young star begins this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last season, Giddey observed as his former squad stormed to the NBA championship without him. As the Chicago aim to reach the postseason in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Hawks player's trajectory has taken off in the city following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and topped the league in steals with three per game – more than one whole takeaway per match higher than the total of second place.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this season as a playmaking option and defensive stopper 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 distribution and driving, he could become one of the association's most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a series of highlight-reel dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics led NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the All-Star dunk contest could be a possibility.

After logging just 8 mpg per game over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former college student is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might favor youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker the Sydney native fell in the June draft down to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the Finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player drafted in the second round to see much court time. But the Sydney product has seen time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting five spot in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will miss 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 see consistent action if the team find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's off-season shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to return. The player still has a contract for the upcoming year, but will not want to give his colleagues at the developing Charlotte an excessive head start. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important exhibition opportunities in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Then there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, court time this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be primarily a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by the Wolves through their G-League team. Other rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago 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 alongside his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a training clip posted on his social media over the weekend, showing the veteran remains in form and focused on securing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, angling and using with a Sherrin. Although he posted on social media last month to reject suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.