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This year's National Basketball Association season starts now, signaling the first time in a decade that Aussie pair of biggest basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of the country's highest sporting income generators.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for minutes across the NBA, ranging from experienced big men 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 protracted discussions with the Bulls, the guard finally signed his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is affordable for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old enters this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last season, Giddey observed as his old team stormed to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls look to reach the postseason in the less competitive East, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels agreed to the same deal as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks guard’s career has skyrocketed in the city following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and led the league in takeaways with three per game – more than one whole steal per match higher than the tally of the runner-up.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be successful this season as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was below league average last season, and continue to develop his distribution and attacking, he could become one of the association's most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana forward the rookie has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in Indiana following a succession of spectacular dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 appearances in his debut season, the former Maribyrnong College player is in the running for a Pacers lineup that might lean towards young players following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft all the way to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to reach the Finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player taken in the late picks to see significant playing minutes. But the Sydney product has earned time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a chance to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Experienced Group

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the start of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent action if the team find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's summer shoulder surgery has resulted in him with no return date to return. The player still has a contract for the upcoming year, but won’t want to allow his colleagues at the developing Hornets an excessive head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, game action this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but seems to be little more than a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League 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 his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

Should anyone question Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a workout video posted on his social media over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran remains sharp and focused on landing another league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and using with a Sherrin. Even though he posted on Instagram recently to reject suggestions he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.