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The National Basketball Association campaign begins this week, signaling the first time in a ten years that Aussie pair of most prominent basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

This change indicates a transition period, as Australian backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for playoff aspirants, with recently signed huge contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s highest sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete 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 Aiming to Show His Worth

Following lengthy discussions with the Bulls, the guard finally signed his rookie extension worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four seasons recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is cheap for his role and reputation as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old enters this season with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, he observed as his old team stormed to the title in his absence. As the Chicago look to reach the postseason in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his shooting and defence are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels signed the identical contract as his counterpart this week, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Hawks guard’s career has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and topped the league in steals with 3.0 spg – over one whole takeaway per game higher than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this season as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was subpar last season, and continue to develop his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana forward Furphy has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in the state following a series of spectacular slam dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics led NBA personality Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

After playing just eight minutes per contest over 50 games in his debut season, the former college player is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might favor young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard Proctor fell in the June draft all the way to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to reach the Finals from the East, so it would be rare for a first-year player drafted in the second round to see significant playing minutes. But the Sydney product has earned minutes in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting offers him a opportunity to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting five spot in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the start of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent action if the Blazers find themselves competitive. His fellow player 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 left him with no return date to return. The player still has a deal for the upcoming year, but won’t want to allow his teammates at the developing Hornets too much head start. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed important pre-season chances in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Additionally, 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 Minnesota, but appears to be primarily a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Other rookies 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 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 workout video posted on his social media over the weekend, demonstrating the 37-year-old remains in form and focused on landing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in Australia, going fishing and playing with a football. Although 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 surface.