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This year's National Basketball Association season begins now, marking the first time in a ten years that Aussie pair of biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for playoff aspirants, with recently signed nine-figure contracts making them some of the country's top athletic earners.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play for playing time 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 lengthy negotiations with the Bulls, the guard ultimately inked his rookie extension worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four seasons recently. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and reputation as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the young star begins this year with much to prove.

After being moved by the Thunder at the beginning of last campaign, he watched as his old team stormed to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels signed the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his MIP honor last season, the Atlanta player's trajectory has skyrocketed in the city following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – more than one full takeaway per game higher than the tally of the runner-up.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was subpar last season, and keep develop his distribution and driving, Daniels could become one of the association's most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana wing the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a succession of spectacular slam dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics led NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the mid-season dunk contest could be a possibility.

Following logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the ex- Maribyrnong College student is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might favor young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard Proctor dropped in the June draft all the way to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers selected 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 second round to see significant playing minutes. But the Australian has earned minutes in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting gives him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Experienced Group

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting five spot in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss 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 see regular minutes if the Blazers find themselves in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive specialist in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder procedure has left him with no return date to come back. The 24-year-old still has a deal for next season, but won’t want to allow his colleagues at the developing Charlotte an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important pre-season opportunities in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League team. Other 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 earn playing time alongside his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a workout video posted on his accounts recently, showing the 37-year-old remains sharp and determined on securing another league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, angling and playing with a Sherrin. Even though he posted on Instagram recently to reject rumors he was done, the former All-Star – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.