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This year's NBA campaign starts this week, signaling the first time in a ten years that Australia's two most prominent hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for playoff aspirants, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of the country's top sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play for minutes across the NBA, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following protracted discussions with the Bulls, the guard finally inked his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years recently. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is affordable for his role and profile as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the young star enters this year with much to prove.

After being moved by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, he observed as his former squad stormed to the title without him. As the Chicago look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will have to show his scoring and defence are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart this week, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Atlanta player's career has taken off in Atlanta following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and led the league in takeaways with three per game – over one whole takeaway per match greater than the tally of second place.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was below league average last season, and continue to enhance his passing and attacking, Daniels could become one of the association's most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in Indiana following a succession of spectacular slam dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be on the table.

Following logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the former college student is in contention for a Pacers lineup that might favor youth following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the June draft down to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are favourites to reach the NBA finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player taken in the late picks to see significant playing minutes. But the Australian has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting five spot in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the start of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent minutes if the Blazers become in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive spark off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's summer shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to return. The player still has a deal for the upcoming year, but will not want to give his teammates at the developing Hornets an excessive advantage. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed important exhibition opportunities in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Then there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but seems to be little more than a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Fellow first-year players 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 alongside his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a training clip posted on his social media over the weekend, demonstrating the 37-year-old is still sharp and focused on securing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, going fishing and playing with a football. Even though he took to Instagram last month to reject rumors he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.