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This year's NBA campaign starts this week, marking the first time in a ten years that Australia's pair of most prominent hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Australian backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s top athletic earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for playing time around the league, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards 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 signed his new deal worth $100m (A$153 million) over four seasons recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is affordable for his role and profile as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this year with a point to make.

After being moved by the Thunder at the beginning of last campaign, Giddey watched as his former squad stormed to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Chicago aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels signed the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Hawks player's career has skyrocketed in the city following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in steals with three per game – more than one whole steal per game greater than the tally of second place.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be successful this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was subpar last year, and continue to develop his passing and driving, Daniels could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers forward the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of spectacular dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics prompted league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following playing just 8 mpg per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College student is in contention for a Pacers rotation that might favor youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard the Sydney native fell in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavs are front-runners to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player taken in the second round to see much playing minutes. But the Sydney product has earned time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the season after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular action if the team become competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder surgery has resulted in him with no return date to return. The player still has a contract for next season, but will not want to give his colleagues at the rebuilding Hornets too much head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important pre-season opportunities in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, game action this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured 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 more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to win playing time 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 workout video posted on his social media recently, demonstrating the veteran is still in form and focused on securing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and using with a football. Although he posted on Instagram recently to deny suggestions he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.