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The National Basketball Association campaign begins this week, signaling the first time in a decade that Australia's pair of biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change signals a transition period, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for contending teams, with recently signed huge contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s top athletic earners.

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

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

After protracted negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey ultimately inked his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years recently. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this season with much to prove.

After being moved by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, he observed as his old team charged to the title without him. As the Bulls aim to reach the postseason in the less competitive Eastern Conference, 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 Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the same deal as his counterpart recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Atlanta guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in the city following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and topped the league in takeaways with three per game – over one full steal per match higher than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be effective this season as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was below league average last season, and continue to enhance his distribution and attacking, he could become one of the league’s most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a succession of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the mid-season dunk contest could be on the table.

After playing just 8 mpg per game over 50 appearances in his debut season, the ex- Maribyrnong College student 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

Guard the Sydney native fell in the June draft down to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the Finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player taken in the late picks to see much playing minutes. But the Sydney product has earned minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a chance to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting five position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the start 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 play regular action if the Blazers become in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to come back. The 24-year-old still has a contract for next season, but won’t want to allow his colleagues at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for important pre-season chances in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, court time this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but appears to be primarily a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Fellow rookies 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 earn playing time alongside his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a training clip posted on his accounts recently, showing the 37-year-old is still sharp and focused on landing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an break in his homeland, angling and using with a Sherrin. Even though he took to Instagram last month to reject suggestions he was done, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.