Australians in the NBA: from the $150m dollar men to a human highlight reel | NBA

NBA Two of Australia's biggest basketball players, Ben Simmons and Patty Mills, won't make the squad this week for the first time in a decade.

Their absence signals a changing of the guard as Boomers backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for the play-off contenders, with newly signed nine-figure contracts making them among Australia's highest-paid athletes.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians will compete for minutes in the league, ranging from veteran centers Jock Landale and Duop Reeth, emerging players Johnny Furphy and Josh Green to intriguing draftees such as Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarski.

Josh Giddy wants to prove himself

After lengthy negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey finally signed a $100 million ($153 million) four-year rookie contract last month. It's a huge contract for the Melburnian, but from an NBA perspective it comes cheap for Giddy's position and profile as a top playmaker. The Chicago front office's reluctance to pay big money means the 23-year-old has a lot to prove this season.

He was traded to Oklahoma City early last season, and Giddy watched his old team storm the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to show that his shooting and defense are worthy of a starter or he could slide back to the NBA fringes.

Dyson Daniels takes it a step further

Daniels signed the same contract as Giddy this week, and after winning the MVP award last season, the Hawks guard's career began in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now considered one of the league's best perimeter defenders and leads the league in steals with three per game, more than one steal per game higher than second place.

Playing next to the flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old could find success this season as a secondary ball handler and elite defender as the Hawks make their way to the playoffs. But if he can improve his 3-point shooting, which was below league average last year, and continue to develop his passing and driving, Daniels could become one of the league's most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy on the brightest watch

Pacers forward Furphy has become a fan favorite in Indiana after a streak of stellar preseason shooting. His acrobatics have prompted leading NBA player Pat Beverly to call him “the best white dunker we've ever seen,” and an invitation to a midseason dunk contest may be on the table.

After playing just eight minutes per contest in more than 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College student is in contention for a Pacers rotation that could lean toward youth following an injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor – long range shot

Defensive end Proctor fell all the way down to the 49th pick in June's draft, where he was selected by Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland. The Cavaliers are the favorite to reach the NBA Finals out of the East, so it's rare for a rookie second-round pick to see much court time. But the Sydney product has seen some minutes in preseason and his NBA-ready shot gives him a chance to contribute.

The crunch of minutes is approaching for the veteran quintet

Veteran center Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting center job in Memphis given that highly touted Zach Eady will miss the start of the season due to ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Rith is the veteran backup to young centers Donovan Clingan and Young Hansen, but could be a consistent player if the Blazers prove competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle will likely be used as a defensive spark on the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green had shoulder surgery in the offseason, leaving him with no timetable for a return. The 24-year-old is still under contract for next season but doesn't want to give too much of a head start to his teammates in a rebuilding Hornets side. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who had a sore knee and missed key opportunities before the season in Dallas.

Australian NBA players on the brink

There are also those who are unlikely to see much court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but appears to be little more than the big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Ziecarski will likely develop with the Minnesota Timberwolves through their G League team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Albrich of Chicago and Alex Toohey of the Golden State Warriors are also in the mix, while the more experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to get minutes alongside the Cavaliers' Proctor.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills are looking for a deal

If there was any doubt that Mills was going to retire, he addressed them with a workout video posted to his social media over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old staying in shape and focused on landing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone's guess after an off-season in Australia where he fished and played with Sherrin. Although he took to Instagram last month to dismiss speculation that he had been fired, the 29-year-old, who was an All-Star back in 2021, has yet to make an appearance.