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The National Basketball Association season starts now, signaling the first time in a ten years that Australia's pair of most prominent hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change signals a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts making them some of the country's highest athletic income generators.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for playing time around the league, 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 Aiming to Show His Worth

After protracted discussions with the Bulls, the guard finally inked his new deal worth US$100 million ($153m) over four years last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is affordable for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the young star begins this season with much to prove.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, Giddey observed as his old team stormed to the title without him. As the Bulls aim to reach the postseason in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to show his scoring and defence are elite-level or else he may slide towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard signed the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Atlanta player's career has taken off in the city following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in steals with three per game – over one full steal per match higher than the total of the runner-up.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be effective this campaign as a playmaking option 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 keep develop his passing and attacking, he could become one of the association's most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing Furphy has emerged as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of spectacular slam dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

After playing just eight minutes per game over 50 games in his debut season, the former college player is in contention for a Pacers lineup that might favor young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker the Sydney native dropped in the NBA Draft all the way to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the NBA finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be unusual for a rookie taken in the late picks to see much court time. But the Australian has seen time in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting gives him a opportunity to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Experienced Group

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent action if the team find themselves in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In the Hornets, Josh Green’s summer shoulder procedure has resulted in him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a deal for next season, but will not want to allow his colleagues at the developing Hornets an excessive head start. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed important exhibition opportunities in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be little more than a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Fellow first-year players 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 hoping to win minutes with his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a training clip posted on his accounts recently, demonstrating the 37-year-old remains 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 football. Even though he posted on social media recently to deny rumors he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.