The early part of the NBA season has been a rocky one for the Brooklyn Nets. They have a solid record at 7-4, but they are navigating things without starting point guard, Kyrie Irving.
Irving has not yet received his COVID-19 vaccination, so he is ineligible to play games at Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden. Not wanting a part-time player, the Nets decided Irving would not be a part of the team until he was available full-time.
The team still has Kevin Durant and James Harden to carry the load, but without Irving, other players are needed to step up. One of the players that have answered the call thus far is veteran Patty Mills.
Mills signed a two-year deal worth just over $12 million, leaving the San Antonio Spurs to join the Nets. He has been one of the best signings of the offseason thus far, as he has taken his game to another level just when Brooklyn needed it most.
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Mills has been a lights-out shooter with the Nets. He set an NBA record making his first 10 3-point attempts of the season. Mills has knocked down 47.4 percent of his 3-pointers this season, making him one of the best shooters in the league.
Oddly enough, he is shooting a paltry 32.4 percent on 2-point shots. The Australian native is also chipping in 2.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game.
That is likely more than he or the Nets expected him to play, but he has been up to the task thus far. Durant spoke highly of Patty Mills recently, commenting on his professionalism and how infectious his energy is.
“Just a true pro, through-and-through,” Durant said. “Just how he approaches his craft every day is an inspiring thing to anybody. …Beating his chest into the crowd, making timely plays underneath the basket, getting steals, just playing with energy.”
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That is something the Brooklyn Nets are hoping that he continues bringing to the table for the duration of the season. With no return in sight for Kyrie Irving, Brookly will continue relying on the veteran to produce on the court and help the team win some games.
