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This year's NBA season tips off now, marking the first time in a ten years that Aussie pair of biggest hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

Their absence signals a transition period, as Australian backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of the country's highest sporting income generators.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for minutes across the NBA, including veteran centres 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

After protracted negotiations with the Bulls, Giddey finally signed his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years recently. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is affordable for Giddey’s position and reputation as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the young star enters this year with much to prove.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, he watched as his old team charged to the title in his absence. As the Chicago look to reach the postseason in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to show his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart this week, and after his MIP honor last season, the Hawks player's trajectory has taken off in Atlanta following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – more than one whole steal per game greater than the tally of second place.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be successful this season as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was below league average last year, and keep develop his passing and driving, he could become one of the association's most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers wing the rookie has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of highlight-reel slam dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

After logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 games in his debut season, the ex- Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Pacers rotation that might favor young players following injury to lead guard 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 selected him. The Cavaliers are favourites to reach the NBA finals from the East, so it would be rare for a first-year player drafted in the late picks to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has earned time in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting offers him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting five position in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the start of the campaign 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 consistent action if the Blazers find themselves competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's summer shoulder procedure has resulted in him with no return date to return. The player still has a contract for next season, but will not want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for key pre-season chances in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Then there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, game action this year. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but appears to be little more than a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by the Wolves 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 development pipeline, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to win playing time with his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a training clip posted on his social media recently, demonstrating the veteran remains in form and determined on landing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in Australia, angling and using with a football. Although he took to social media recently to deny rumors he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.