The Nets didn’t know they wouldn’t have Kyrie Irving available when they added Patty Mills in free agency, but he has turned out to be exactly what they need. Mills, who signed for the mid-level exception, was considered one of the top bargains of the NBA off-season and is gathering a ton of praise from his new coach Steve Nash.

“He’s a winner,” coach Steve Nash said. “He plays the right way, he’s experienced. Obviously he’s skilled, but he just brings a great feel to the game, with (or) without the ball. And defensively, he makes our team communicate better. He organizes us (on) both sides of the ball. So, he just brings a lot to the table, and he’s a great addition to our team.”

Mills, who is coming off a historic Tokyo Olympic run that delivered Australia its first Olympic medal, has delivered “FIBA Patty” to the Brooklyn Nets. Many hoops pundits questioned why Patty Mills was so much better playing for Australia when compared to his production with the San Antonio Spurs over the years and it seems all he needed to bring “FIBA Patty” to the table was a new opportunity.

Through the first five games of the season, the Aussie guard is providing a scoring boost off the bench contributing 12.4 points per game on 45 per cent shooting overall and 52 per cent from deep which included two 21 point games. Mills strong star is making him an early case for Sixth Man of the Year considerations.

The Nets were able to pry Mills away from the Spurs with their mid-level exception. A team-friendly two-year, $12 million ($A16m) contract that is less than half of the $13.5 million ($A18m) he made with San Antonio last season but evidence of Patty’s renewed focus on success and championships over everything else.

He has stepped in to emerge as that third star the Nets needed, the one to pass to and trust to come up with the big plays when Kevin Durant or James Harden haven’t found the rhythm yet. Durant, who played a big role in recruiting Mills to Brooklyn at the Tokyo Olympics, values the guard’s professionalism and the way he approaches the game; traits that rub off on his teammates.

Durant had one word, to sum up what the Australian has brought to the playing group. “Professionalism,” he said.

“(He’s) just a true pro. Through and through. Just how he approaches his craft every day is an inspiring thing to anybody especially when you know the story of where he comes from. Just having that energy around every day is amazing,” said Durant on Mills. “Beating his chest into the crowd, making timely plays underneath the basket, getting steals. Just playing with energy. We’re going to need that from him.”

While Brooklyn has spent the first week of the season experimenting with lineups and rotations, Mills’ production has remained consistent — and fresh — in his new role. Most recently, he delivered a bounce off the bench the Nets were craving against the Wizards Monday night.

The guard finished with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting overall and 5-of-9 from three in 23 minutes. Although he scored 21 points, it was one play in the closing seconds of the first that really served as a catalyst for Brooklyn.

Mills, who has thrived in off-ball situations, ran from the baseline up to the left-wing and after receiving the cross-court pass from James Harden, faked the catch-and-shoot, broke the defender’s ankles and drilled a three with 8.6 seconds remaining to put the Nets up 18 and sent the Barclays Center crowd of 14,487 into a frenzy.

“Just one of those feel-good moments I think,” said Mills on the highlight play. “It’s great energy in the building already. I think we have, from what I experienced already, one of those crowds we can definitely feed off when we need to and when they’re in the game. I think that blue-collar mentality of how we play, it seems like the crowd enjoys (it): Being able to be scrappy, loose balls, 50-50 balls, charges. Those are one of the times I felt good and got the crowd involved.”

PATTY ? pic.twitter.com/CFx3XtySa8

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 26, 2021

It can sometimes take a player a couple of games to get into a rhythm and carve out a role with their new team. For Mills, that hasn’t been the case.

In his debut, he scored 21 points on a perfect 7-of-7 from three. He followed it up with another sharpshooting performance — 4-of-5 from the field, 3-of-3 from deep for 11 points — and a new NBA record for most consecutive threes without a miss with a new team (10-of-10).

Mills has credited a mindset change to his explosive start and finding ways, big or small, to assert himself while the team builds chemistry and continuity.

“I understood over my time that it’s a marathon of a season and you can’t knit-pick certain things at every game. For me, take it in chunks but there are some little things you can definitely look at and improve on every game,” Mills said.

“Just try to make an impact on the game somehow whether it is on the defensive or offensive end. I think that has always been something that I have hung my hat on especially offensively. If it is not the night, then go make a play defensively and get after, dive for loose balls, create a charge, make an impact that way.

“I think an all-around type of mentality is the thing that I have tried to have always. I am not too happy with myself when I start to float around and just be out there,” said Mills his approach to making an impact. “That was an adjustment for me personally from last night to tonight.”

Dan Boyce (817 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.