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This year's National Basketball Association campaign starts this week, signaling the initial occasion in a decade that Australia's pair of most prominent hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence signals a transition period, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s top athletic earners.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for minutes around the league, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

Following lengthy discussions with the Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his new deal worth $100m (A$153 million) over four seasons last month. It’s a huge contract 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 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 campaign, Giddey observed as his old team charged to the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will have to demonstrate his shooting and defence are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard signed the same deal as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last season, the Atlanta player's career has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – over one full takeaway per game higher than the total of the runner-up.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be successful this season as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was subpar last season, and continue to develop his distribution and driving, Daniels could become one of the league’s most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers forward Furphy has emerged as a fan favourite in the state following a series of highlight-reel slam dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics prompted league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the All-Star dunk contest could be a possibility.

Following logging just eight minutes per game over 50 games in his debut season, the former college player is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might favor youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard the Sydney native fell in the June draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavs are favourites to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be rare for a first-year player drafted in the second round to see much playing minutes. But the Sydney product has seen time in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting offers him a chance to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting five spot 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 experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular minutes if the team find themselves in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's summer shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to come back. The 24-year-old still has a contract for next season, but won’t want to give his teammates at the developing Hornets an excessive head start. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed important pre-season opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Then there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, game action this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be primarily a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Fellow rookies 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 win minutes alongside his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a training clip shared on his social media over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old is still sharp and focused on landing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an break in his homeland, angling and playing with a Sherrin. Even though he took to social media recently to reject suggestions he was done, the former All-Star – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.