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The NBA campaign tips off now, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's pair of biggest hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players 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, including 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 Aiming to Show His Worth

After protracted discussions with the Chicago Bulls, the guard finally signed his rookie extension worth $100m ($153m) over four seasons 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. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this season with much to prove.

After being moved by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, Giddey observed as his old team stormed to the NBA championship without him. As the Chicago look to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to show his shooting and defence are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard agreed to the same deal as Giddey this week, and after his MIP honor last year, the Atlanta player's trajectory has taken off in the city following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – 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 effective this season as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was below league average last season, and keep enhance his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana forward the rookie has emerged as a fan favourite in Indiana following a succession of spectacular dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics led NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the mid-season dunk contest could be on the table.

Following 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 lean towards young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the June draft all the way to the second round, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers selected 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 playing minutes. But the Australian has seen minutes in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting gives him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent action if the team become competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s summer shoulder procedure has resulted in him with no return date to come back. The player still has a deal for next season, but won’t want to give his colleagues at the rebuilding Charlotte too much head start. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed important exhibition opportunities in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, game action this year. Veteran Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but appears to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Other rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to win minutes alongside Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a workout video posted on his social media over the weekend, showing the veteran is still sharp and determined on securing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an break in Australia, going fishing and using with a football. Although he took to Instagram recently to deny suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.