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This year's National Basketball Association season begins now, marking the first time in a decade that Aussie two most prominent hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

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

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for playing time 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 Chicago Bulls, Giddey ultimately signed his rookie extension worth $100m ($153m) over four years recently. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this year with much to prove.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the start of last season, Giddey watched as his former squad stormed to the title without him. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will have to demonstrate his scoring and defence are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard signed the same deal as Giddey recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in the city following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – more than one full steal per game greater than the tally of second place.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be successful this season as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was below league average last year, and keep enhance his passing and attacking, he could become one of the association's most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers forward the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of highlight-reel slam dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the All-Star dunk contest could be a possibility.

After logging just 8 mpg per contest over 50 games in his debut season, the former college student is in the running for a Pacers lineup that might lean towards youth following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard the Sydney native fell in the NBA Draft all the way to the second round, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to reach the Finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player drafted in the second round to see significant playing minutes. But the Sydney product has seen time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting centre position in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the start of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent minutes if the Blazers become in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s summer shoulder procedure has resulted in him without a timeline to come back. The 24-year-old still has a deal for next season, 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 complaint and has been absent for important pre-season opportunities in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, game action this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but appears to be primarily a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to earn minutes with Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a workout video shared on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran is still sharp and focused on landing another NBA contract.

Simmons' intentions is anyone’s guess after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and using with a football. Even though he posted on Instagram last month to deny suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.