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This year's NBA season begins now, signaling the first time in a ten years that Aussie two biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

Their absence indicates a transition period, as Australian backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for playoff aspirants, with recently signed huge contracts establishing them as some of the country's highest sporting income generators.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for playing time across the NBA, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following lengthy negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, the guard finally inked his rookie extension worth $100m ($153m) over four seasons last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is affordable for his role and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old enters this season with much to prove.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, Giddey observed as his old team charged to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls look to reach the postseason in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to show his scoring and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard signed the same deal as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Atlanta player's trajectory has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with three per game – more than one whole steal per match higher than the tally of second place.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was subpar last season, and keep enhance his distribution and driving, Daniels could become one of the league’s most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana forward the rookie has emerged as a fan favourite in Indiana following a series of highlight-reel dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics led league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

After logging just eight minutes per game over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the ex- 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 A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor fell in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the Finals from the East, so it would be rare for a rookie drafted in the late picks to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has earned minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting centre position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the season after a surgical procedure.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular action if the Blazers find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive specialist in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's off-season shoulder procedure has left him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a deal for next season, but won’t want to allow his colleagues at the developing Hornets an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed key exhibition chances in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, game action this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but seems to be primarily a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by the Wolves through their G-League team. Fellow first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to win minutes with Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a workout video posted on his accounts recently, demonstrating the 37-year-old is still in form and focused on securing another league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and playing with a football. Although he posted on social media last month to deny suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.