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This year's NBA campaign starts this week, marking the first time in a ten years that Aussie two biggest hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

This change signals a transition period, as Australian backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for playoff aspirants, with recently signed nine-figure contracts making them some of the country's top sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for minutes around the league, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

After lengthy negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey ultimately inked his rookie extension worth $100m ($153m) over four seasons last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and reputation as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this year with much to prove.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the beginning of last campaign, he observed as his old team charged to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the weaker East, he will need to demonstrate his shooting and defence are starter-worthy 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 year, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has taken off in the city following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in takeaways with three per game – more than one full steal per match greater than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was below league average last year, and keep develop his passing and attacking, Daniels could become one of the association's most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana forward the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of spectacular 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 playing just eight minutes per contest over 50 games in his debut season, the ex- college player is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards young players following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft down to the second round, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to reach the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be unusual for a rookie taken in the late picks to see significant court time. But the Australian has earned time in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting offers him a chance to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent minutes if the Blazers become in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's off-season shoulder procedure has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The player still has a contract for next season, but won’t want to allow his colleagues at the rebuilding Hornets too much head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed important exhibition opportunities in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, court time this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but seems to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to earn minutes alongside 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 shared on his social media over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old is still sharp and focused on landing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an break in his homeland, angling and playing with a Sherrin. Although he took to Instagram last month to reject suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.