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This year's National Basketball Association campaign tips off this week, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's two biggest basketball 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 step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new huge contracts making them some of the country's highest sporting income generators.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for playing time around the league, ranging from 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

Following protracted negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey finally signed his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four seasons recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it is affordable for Giddey’s position and reputation as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the young star enters this year with a point to make.

After being moved by the Thunder at the beginning of last season, Giddey watched as his former squad stormed to the NBA championship without him. As the Chicago look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defence are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels signed the same deal as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Atlanta player's career has skyrocketed in the city following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in steals with 3.0 spg – over one full steal per match higher than the total of second place.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be successful this season as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was below league average last season, and keep develop his distribution and attacking, he could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana wing the rookie has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a succession of highlight-reel slam dunks in exhibition games. 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 invite to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following playing just 8 mpg per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College player is in the running for a Pacers lineup that might lean towards young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard the Sydney native dropped in the June draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland selected him. The Cavs are front-runners to reach the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player taken in the second round to see much court time. But the Sydney product has seen time in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Experienced Group

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

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent action if the Blazers become competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's off-season shoulder procedure has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The player still has a deal for the upcoming year, but will not want to allow his teammates at the developing Hornets an excessive head start. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for key exhibition chances in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Additionally, 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 back in Minnesota, but seems to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League team. Fellow rookies 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 Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Patty Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a workout video shared on his social media recently, showing the 37-year-old is still in form and focused on landing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and playing with a Sherrin. Although he posted on Instagram last month to reject suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.