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This year's National Basketball Association season tips off this week, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's two most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for contending teams, with recently signed nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of the country's highest sporting income generators.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for minutes around the league, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

After protracted discussions with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey finally inked his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in league standards 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 enters this year with much to prove.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last season, he watched as his former squad stormed to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive East, he will need to show his shooting and defence are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

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 Atlanta player's trajectory has taken off in Atlanta following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and topped the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – over one full steal per game higher than the total of second place.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be effective 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 below league average last year, and keep enhance his passing and driving, he could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana forward the rookie has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be on the table.

After logging just 8 mpg per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former college player is in the running for a Indiana lineup that might favor young players following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker the Sydney native fell in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavaliers are front-runners 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 Sydney product has earned minutes in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting offers him a opportunity to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Veteran Quintet

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting five position in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the start of the season after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent minutes if the team become in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s summer shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to return. The player still has a deal for next season, but won’t want to give his colleagues at the rebuilding Charlotte too much advantage. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed important pre-season chances in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, game action this year. Veteran Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but appears to be primarily a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to earn minutes with Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a workout video posted on his accounts over the weekend, showing the veteran remains in form and determined on securing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an break in his homeland, angling and playing with a football. Even though he took to Instagram last month to deny suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.