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This year's National Basketball Association season tips off this week, marking the initial occasion in a ten years that Aussie two most prominent hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change signals a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for contending teams, with recently signed huge contracts making them some of the country's top athletic income generators.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for minutes across the NBA, 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 Out to Prove Himself

After protracted discussions with the Bulls, the guard finally inked his new deal worth $100m ($153m) 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 profile as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the young star begins this year with a point to make.

After being moved by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, Giddey observed as his former squad charged to the title in his absence. As the Chicago aim to reach the postseason in the less competitive East, he will need to show his shooting and defence are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard signed the identical contract as Giddey this week, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Atlanta player's trajectory has taken off in the city following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – over one whole steal per match greater than the total of the runner-up.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be successful this season as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was below league average last year, and keep develop his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the association's most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing Furphy has emerged as a crowd favorite in the state following a series of highlight-reel dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays 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 on the table.

Following logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 games in his debut season, the ex- Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Pacers lineup that might lean towards young players following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are favourites to reach the Finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player taken in the second round to see much court time. But the Australian has earned minutes in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting gives him a opportunity to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting five position in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the start of the season after a surgical procedure.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular minutes if the Blazers find themselves in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s summer shoulder procedure has left him without a timeline to return. The player still has a deal for next season, but won’t want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Hornets too much advantage. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed key pre-season opportunities in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, court time this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by the Wolves through their G-League team. Other rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to earn minutes alongside Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a workout video shared on his social media recently, demonstrating the 37-year-old is still in form and focused on securing another NBA contract.

Simmons' intentions is anyone’s guess after an break in Australia, going fishing and using with a football. Even though 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 yet to return to the league.