Say this much for Australian Boomers star Patty Mills: he knows how to make an impact.
The 13-year veteran is making all the right moves in the NBA, and averaged 10.1 points and 2.7 assists through his first 11 games for the Brooklyn Nets, who were sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 7 and 4 record.
The four-time Olympian’s hauls so far featuring two 21-point nights. The first of them in the Nets’ season-opening loss to the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks.
After winning just two of its first five games, Brooklyn ran off five straight wins before falling to the Bulls in Chicago this week.
That streak including a 116-103 road win against the Toronto Raptors. Mills had 13 points in that one, but it was his defence that attracted rave reviews from teammate Blake Griffin.
“As of today, Patty Mills is officially in the Blue Collar Boys,” Griffin said after the Nets ended a six-year losing streak in Canada. “Give it to Patty and it’s a win for all of Australia as well.”
Mills, who led the Boomers to the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, signed with the Nets this season after playing the previous 10 with the San Antonio Spurs.
Handled business in Toronto.
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 8, 2021
In the spirit of reconciliation Basketball Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.