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The NBA season tips off this week, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's two biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

Their absence indicates a transition period, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with recently signed huge contracts establishing them as some of the country's top athletic income generators.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for playing time across the NBA, including 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 Aiming to Show His Worth

After lengthy discussions with the Chicago Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his rookie extension worth $100m (A$153 million) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is cheap for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the young star enters this season with a point to make.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, he observed as his old team charged to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, 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

The guard signed the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Atlanta player's career has taken off in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and topped the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – more than one full takeaway per game greater than the tally of second place.

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

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana wing Furphy has emerged as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity 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 college player is in contention for a Indiana lineup that might lean towards young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor fell in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to make the NBA finals from the East, 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 Experienced Group

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting five spot in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the start of the season after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular minutes if the Blazers find themselves in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder procedure has left him with no return date to come back. The 24-year-old still has a contract for the upcoming year, but won’t want to allow his teammates at the developing Hornets an excessive advantage. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, court time this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be primarily a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Fellow 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 hoping to win playing time with Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a training clip shared on his accounts over the weekend, showing the veteran remains sharp and focused on securing another league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an break in Australia, going fishing and using with a Sherrin. Even though he took to Instagram last month to reject suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.