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This year's NBA campaign begins this week, marking the first time in a decade that Australia's pair of biggest hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

This change signals a transition period, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for playoff aspirants, with recently signed nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of the country's top athletic earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for playing time around the league, including veteran centres 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 lengthy discussions with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey finally signed his rookie extension worth $100m (A$153 million) over four years last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is affordable for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the young star enters this year with a point to make.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, Giddey watched as his former squad stormed to the NBA championship 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 elite-level or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels signed the same deal as his counterpart this week, and after his MIP honor last season, the Atlanta guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with three per game – over one full steal per game greater than the tally of second place.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, 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 long-range game, which was subpar last season, and keep develop his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in the state following a series of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following logging just eight minutes per game over 50 appearances in his debut season, the former college player is in contention for a Pacers rotation that might lean towards youth following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the June draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player drafted in the late picks to see much court time. But the Australian has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Experienced Group

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting centre position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular action if the team find themselves competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive specialist in a reserve role.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's off-season shoulder surgery has left him with no return date to come back. The 24-year-old still has a contract for next season, but will not want to give his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

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

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League team. Other first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to earn playing time alongside his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a training clip posted on his social media over the weekend, showing 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 Australia, angling and using with a Sherrin. Although he took to Instagram recently to deny suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.