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The NBA season starts this week, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's pair of most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

This change indicates a transition period, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for contending teams, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of the country's highest athletic income generators.

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

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

After protracted discussions with the Bulls, the guard ultimately inked his rookie extension worth $100m ($153m) over four seasons last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is cheap for his role and profile as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal means the young star begins this year with a point to make.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, he watched as his old team charged to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls look to reach the postseason in the less competitive East, he will have to show his shooting and defence are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the same deal as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks player's career has taken off in Atlanta following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – over one whole steal per match higher than the tally of second place.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this season as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was below league average last year, and keep enhance his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana wing the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in the state following a series of spectacular slam dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following playing just 8 mpg per game over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the ex- college player is in contention for a Pacers lineup that might lean towards youth following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft all the way to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to reach the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be unusual for a rookie drafted in the second round to see significant playing minutes. But the Sydney product has seen time in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting centre spot in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the season 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 competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's summer shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The 24-year-old still has a contract for next season, but will not want to allow his teammates at the developing Charlotte an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for key pre-season opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but appears to be little more than a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

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 more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to win playing time with his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a training clip shared on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran remains in form and determined on securing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an break in his homeland, angling and using with a football. Although he posted on social media recently to deny suggestions he was done, the former All-Star – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.