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The NBA campaign starts now, signaling the first time in a decade that Australia's two biggest hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for playoff aspirants, with recently signed nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s top athletic income generators.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play for minutes around the league, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

After protracted discussions with the Chicago Bulls, the guard finally signed his new deal worth $100m (A$153 million) over four seasons recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it is affordable for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this year with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, he observed as his old team stormed to the title without him. As the Bulls aim to make the playoffs in the weaker East, he will need to demonstrate his shooting and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels agreed to the same deal as Giddey recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Atlanta guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and topped 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 Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was below league average last season, and keep develop his passing and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing Furphy has emerged as a fan favourite in the state following a series of highlight-reel slam dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays prompted NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the All-Star dunk contest could be on the table.

After playing just 8 mpg per game over 50 appearances in his debut season, the former Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards youth following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard Proctor dropped in the June draft down to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavs are favourites to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player taken in the late picks to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has seen time in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting offers him a chance to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Experienced Group

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting five position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the opening of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular minutes if the team become competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s summer shoulder surgery has left him with no return date to return. The player still has a deal for the upcoming year, but will not want to allow his colleagues at the rebuilding Hornets an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed key pre-season opportunities in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, court time this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but appears to be little more than a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Other first-year players 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 aiming to win minutes with his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

Should anyone question Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a training clip shared on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran is still in form and focused on landing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and playing with a Sherrin. Although he took to Instagram recently to reject suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.