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This year's NBA campaign starts this week, signaling the first time in a ten years that Aussie pair of most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

This change indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s highest sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. 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 discussions with the Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his rookie extension worth US$100 million ($153m) 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 primary ball-handler. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this year with a point to make.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the beginning of last campaign, he watched as his old team charged to the title in his absence. As the Chicago aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, 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

The guard agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart recently, and after his MIP honor last season, the Hawks player's career has taken off in the city following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with three per game – over one whole takeaway per game higher than the tally of second place.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was below league average last season, and continue to enhance his passing and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers forward the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of spectacular slam dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led NBA personality Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the mid-season dunk contest could be a possibility.

After logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the ex- Maribyrnong College player is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might favor youth following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Playmaker the Sydney native dropped in the NBA Draft all the way to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to reach the NBA finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a rookie taken in the second round to see much playing minutes. But the Sydney product has earned minutes in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the opening of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular action if the team find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's summer shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The 24-year-old still has a contract for the upcoming year, but won’t want to allow his teammates at the developing Charlotte too much advantage. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed important exhibition 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 season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but seems to be little more than a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured 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 slow cooker, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to earn minutes alongside his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a training clip shared on his social media over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran is still in form and focused on landing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and using with a Sherrin. Even though he took to Instagram recently to reject rumors he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.