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This year's NBA season starts now, marking the first time in a ten years that Aussie pair of biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence signals a transition period, as Australian backcourt duo 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 athletic income generators.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play for playing time across the NBA, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

After lengthy 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 affordable for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old begins this year with much to prove.

After being moved by the Thunder at the start of last season, he observed as his old team charged to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will have to demonstrate his shooting and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in the city following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – more than one full steal per game greater than the total of the runner-up.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be successful this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was below league average last year, and continue to develop his distribution and attacking, he could become one of the league’s most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers forward the rookie has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of highlight-reel slam dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be on the table.

After logging just 8 mpg per game over 50 appearances in his debut season, the former Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Indiana lineup that might favor youth following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker the Sydney native fell in the June draft all the way to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers selected him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to reach the Finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a rookie drafted in the late picks to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has seen minutes in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting gives him a chance to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the start of the season after a surgical procedure.

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

In the Hornets, Josh Green's off-season shoulder surgery has left him with no return date to come back. The 24-year-old still has a contract for next season, but will not want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Hornets an excessive head start. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed important exhibition opportunities in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

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

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by the Wolves through their G-League team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to win minutes with Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a training clip shared on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the 37-year-old is still in form and determined on landing one more league deal.

Simmons' intentions is anyone’s guess after an break in his homeland, angling and playing with a Sherrin. Even though he posted on Instagram last month to deny suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.