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This year's National Basketball Association campaign starts now, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's pair of biggest basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

Their absence indicates a transition period, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of the country's top sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play for minutes around the league, including experienced big men 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 Bulls, Giddey ultimately signed his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it is affordable for Giddey’s position and reputation as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the young star enters this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last season, he watched as his old team stormed to the title in his absence. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will have to demonstrate his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels agreed to the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Hawks player's career has taken off in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – more than one whole takeaway per match higher than the total of the runner-up.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was subpar last year, and continue to develop his passing and driving, Daniels could become one of the league’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 succession of highlight-reel dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics led 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 8 mpg per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former college student is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker the Sydney native dropped in the NBA Draft all the way to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player drafted in the late picks to see significant court time. But the Australian has earned time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given highly-touted 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 see consistent minutes if the team find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The player still has a contract for next season, but will not want to give his teammates at the developing Charlotte too much advantage. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem 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. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Fellow first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to win playing time alongside his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

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

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, angling and playing with a football. Although he posted on Instagram last month to reject suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.