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The National Basketball Association season tips off this week, marking the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's two biggest hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence signals a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s top athletic income generators.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for playing time around the league, ranging from experienced big men 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

Following lengthy negotiations with the Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his new deal worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four years last month. 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 the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old enters this year with a point to make.

After being moved by the Thunder at the beginning of last campaign, Giddey observed as his former squad stormed to the title in his absence. As the Chicago look to reach the postseason in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will have to show his shooting and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Hawks player's trajectory has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and topped the league in steals with three per game – over one whole takeaway per game higher than the total of second place.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be successful this season as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was subpar last season, and continue to enhance his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the association's most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers wing the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics led league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the mid-season dunk contest could be a possibility.

Following playing just eight minutes per game over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might favor young players following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard the Sydney native dropped in the June draft all the way to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers selected him. The Cavs are front-runners to reach the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a rookie taken in the second round to see much playing minutes. But the Australian has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting centre position in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the opening of the season after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent minutes if the team find themselves in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's summer shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to return. The player still has a deal for the upcoming year, but will not want to allow his colleagues at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for important pre-season chances in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, game action this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but appears to be primarily a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

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 hoping to earn playing time alongside Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a workout video shared on his social media recently, demonstrating the veteran remains in form and focused on securing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, angling and using with a Sherrin. Even though he posted on Instagram last month to reject suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.