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This year's National Basketball Association campaign tips off this week, marking the first time in a ten years that Australia's two most prominent hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence 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 huge contracts making them some of the country's highest sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for minutes across the NBA, ranging from experienced big men 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 protracted discussions with the Chicago Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his new deal worth $100m (A$153 million) over four years last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the young star begins this year with a point to make.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last season, Giddey watched as his old team charged to the title in his absence. As the Chicago aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his shooting and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart this week, and after his MIP honor last year, the Atlanta 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 defensive specialists, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – more than one whole takeaway per match greater than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be effective this season as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was below league average last year, and continue to develop his distribution and driving, Daniels could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana forward Furphy has emerged as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of spectacular slam dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics led NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

After playing just eight minutes per game over 50 appearances in his debut season, the ex- college player is in the running for a Indiana lineup that might lean towards youth following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to make the NBA 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 time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting five position in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular minutes if the Blazers find themselves in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's off-season shoulder procedure has resulted in him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a deal for the upcoming year, but will not want to give his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, game action this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but seems to be primarily a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by the Wolves through their G-League team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to win minutes with his compatriot 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 shared on his social media recently, demonstrating the 37-year-old remains sharp and focused on landing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, angling and playing with a football. Even though he posted on social media recently to deny suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.