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This year's National Basketball Association season starts now, signaling the first time in a decade that Aussie two most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change signals a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s highest sporting earners.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for minutes around the league, ranging from veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following lengthy negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey finally inked his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is affordable for Giddey’s position and profile as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old begins this year with a point to make.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the start of last season, Giddey observed as his former squad stormed to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive East, he will have 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

The guard agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks player's career has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and led the league in takeaways with three per game – more than one whole steal per game greater than the tally of second place.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be effective this season as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was subpar last year, and keep enhance his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the association's most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a series of spectacular slam dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the All-Star dunk contest could be a possibility.

Following playing just 8 mpg per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College player is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might favor young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the June draft all the way to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavs are favourites to reach the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be unusual for a rookie taken in the second round to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has earned time in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting five position in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the opening of the season after ankle surgery.

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

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s summer shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a contract for next season, but will not want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte too much advantage. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for key pre-season opportunities in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Then there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, court time this year. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be primarily a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Other rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to earn minutes alongside Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a training clip posted on his accounts recently, demonstrating the 37-year-old is still in form and determined on landing another league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an break in Australia, going fishing and using with a football. Although he took to social media last month to deny suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.