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The NBA campaign tips off this week, marking the initial occasion in a decade that Aussie pair of biggest hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

This change signals a transition period, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for contending teams, with new huge contracts making them some of Australia’s highest athletic income generators.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for minutes across the NBA, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

Following protracted discussions with the Bulls, Giddey finally signed his rookie extension worth US$100 million ($153m) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and reputation as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the young star enters this season with a point to make.

After being moved by the Thunder at the beginning of last campaign, he watched as his old team charged to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Chicago aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive East, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defensive skills 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 season, the Hawks player's career has taken off in Atlanta following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – over one full takeaway per match higher than the total of the runner-up.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a playmaking option and defensive stopper 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 attacking, he could become one of the association's most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers forward the rookie has emerged as a fan favourite in Indiana following a series of spectacular slam dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics prompted 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 slam dunk competition could be on the table.

After logging just 8 mpg per game over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the ex- Maribyrnong College student is in contention for a Pacers lineup that might favor young players following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard Proctor fell in the June draft all the way to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to reach the Finals from the East, so it would be rare for a rookie drafted in the second round to see much playing minutes. But the Sydney product has earned minutes in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting gives him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting five spot in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the start of the season after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent action if the team become competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive spark off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's off-season shoulder surgery has left him with no return date to come back. The player still has a contract for the upcoming year, but won’t want to allow his colleagues at the developing Charlotte too much head start. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for key pre-season opportunities in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, game action this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be little more than a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League team. Fellow first-year players 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 aiming to win minutes with his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a workout video shared on his social media over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran remains in form and determined on securing another league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an break in Australia, going fishing and playing with a football. Although he posted on social media recently to deny rumors he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.