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The National Basketball Association season starts this week, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Aussie pair of most prominent hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of the country's top athletic income generators.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for minutes across the NBA, ranging from veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

After protracted negotiations with the Bulls, the guard finally inked his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old begins this year with much to prove.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, he observed as his old team charged 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 defensive skills are starter-worthy 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 year, the Hawks guard’s career has taken off in the city following his exit from the Pelicans. 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 steal per match higher than the total of second place.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this season as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was subpar last season, and keep enhance his distribution and driving, he could become one of the association's most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics led NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker 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 game over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the former college student is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards youth following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor fell in the June draft down to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be unusual for a rookie drafted in the late picks to see significant court time. But the Australian has earned minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Experienced Group

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

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent action if the team find themselves competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s summer shoulder surgery has left him with no return date to return. The player still has a contract for next season, but will not want to give his colleagues at the rebuilding Charlotte too much advantage. 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 On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, game action this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves 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 more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to earn minutes alongside Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

Should anyone question Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a workout video posted on his social media recently, showing the 37-year-old is still sharp and determined on landing one more league deal.

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