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This year's National Basketball Association season tips off now, marking the first time in a decade that Australia's pair of most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for contending teams, with new huge contracts making them some of Australia’s top sporting income generators.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for playing time across the NBA, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

After lengthy negotiations with the Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his new deal worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four years recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is affordable for his role and profile as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the young star enters this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last season, he watched as his old team charged to the title in his absence. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the weaker East, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in the city following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – more than one full takeaway per match greater than the total of second place.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster 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 three-point shooting, which was below league average last season, and continue to enhance his distribution and driving, Daniels could become one of the association's most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays 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 slam dunk competition could be on the table.

Following logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 appearances in his debut season, the former Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker the Sydney native dropped in the June draft down to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are favourites to make the Finals from the East, so it would be rare for a rookie taken in the second round to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has earned minutes in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting offers him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting five spot in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the opening of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular minutes if the team find themselves in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's summer shoulder surgery has left him with no return date to return. The player still has a contract for next season, but will not want to allow his colleagues at the rebuilding Charlotte too much advantage. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed important pre-season chances in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, game action this year. Veteran Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to earn playing time with Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a workout video posted on his accounts recently, demonstrating the 37-year-old remains in form and determined on securing one more league deal.

Simmons' intentions is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and playing with a football. Although he posted on Instagram recently to reject rumors he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.