The NBA is green and gold: Latest news on the Aussies in the big league
The Denver Nuggets have some of the greatest scorers on the planet, but one Aussie rookie has trumped them all with some ludicrous shooting exploits.
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Safe to say former Melbourne United star Jack White is fitting in well in Denver.
White plays with all-world shooters like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr, but teammate Christian Braun has labelled him “the best shooter on the team”.
And he might only be half joking.
White owns records in three of the team’s five competitive shooting drills, nailing 83/100 in one involving shots off the move, 47/50 (10 shots from five spots) and 88/100 (20 shots, five spots).
A reporter asked White about his “record” at the Nuggets’ media day and, in typical Aussie fashion, he was quick to reply “I’ve got a few, there’s more than one.”
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“I’m not far off the other two, but I’m pretty flat that I don’t have them,” White laughed.
It’s no surprise — White dedicated himself to improving as a shooter while recovering from a ruptured Achilles and regularly burned the nets at Melbourne United’s Hoops City home, but it took him a long time to break through the mental barrier of trusting himself to launch it consistently in games.
Jack White is getting shots up after the game - he just drained 14 in a row from that corner - most of them all twine. Going to be a weapon when he comes back. pic.twitter.com/S6VSNqP6Y6
— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) November 28, 2021
The 25-year-old showed a fine stroke in NBA Summer League, which helped him secure a two-way deal with the Nuggets, and, with his elite athleticism and never-say-die effort, it is that shooting ability that will be key in unlocking a long NBA career.
‘Protect Ben’: NBA superstar’s promise to Simmons
—Tom Minear, US Correspondent
Patty Mills says the “stars have aligned” for him to team up with Ben Simmons in Brooklyn, with the Boomers captain and Melbourne-born Kyrie Irving throwing their support behind the Nets’ recruit ahead of his first NBA game in 486 days.
Speaking at the start of Brooklyn’s training camp before the season tips off next month, Simmons declared his body and mind were ready to return to the court after a year out of the game with back problems and mental health struggles.
Brooklyn coach Steve Nash said Simmons was a “special player” who would be a key playmaker and lockdown defender alongside superstar teammates Irving and Kevin Durant.
The Australian was traded to the Nets in February but was unable to take the court as the team’s season ended in what Irving said was an embarrassing playoff defeat against Boston.
Durant then asked for a trade and pushed for Nash and general manager Sean Marks to be fired, before the two-time NBA champion decided to return to the Nets in what was a dramatic off-season.
Appearing at the team’s media day on Tuesday, Mills said the chaos had “kept me busy” in the off-season, but he wanted to return to Brooklyn to deal with “unfinished business”.
“That’s an opportunity to win a championship and build a Brooklyn Nets culture,” he said.
“Rome was never built in a day … The ability for us to create this bond between us with the adversity that comes hopefully can tie us stronger together.”
Mills praised his Australian teammate’s ability to learn from the “good, bad and ugly” of his career so far, saying Simmons now had a “great opportunity to prove himself”.
“I’ve supported him from afar for a long time now,” he said.
“To step on the hardwood with him, I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be very exciting – a hell of a combo, and what he can bring to this team is going to be through the roof.”
Irving promised to “protect him when he needs it”, after Simmons revealed he felt some of his teammates and coaches had failed to support him in Philadelphia.
“But also, he’s a big boy – he can handle it,” Irving said.
“He doesn’t shy away from the moment and I like that … I just want to see him bring the best out of himself, and we have to help him as teammates.”
“Whatever greatness looks like, he wants it.”
Nash described Simmons as a “great fit for our group”, as the Australian vowed to fill any role required on the star-studded squad he hoped would play an up-tempo style.
“I just want to go out there and impact the game in any way I can, whether it’s setting a pick, passing the ball, scoring the ball, getting a stop, rebounding the ball,” Simmons said.
“I don’t care about narratives, I don’t care about people saying certain things. I can’t control that – all I can do is focus on what I can do on the court, win games, and help this team win a championship.”
He said he had been playing with Durant and Irving over the past week and that Brooklyn’s new big three looked “incredible” together on the court.
Asked how many three-pointers he would attempt this season, Simmons did little to avoid the ongoing spotlight on his jump shot, saying: “S***, who knows.”
He said he had “put a lot of time and effort into myself” to improve his mental health after some “dark days” in Philadelphia.
The 26-year-old also confirmed he was back to full physical health, although Simmons said his back problems would require daily maintenance after surgery in the off-season.
Mills said Australian fans had been asking him when Simmons would suit up for the Boomers, but that he believed it was important for him to focus on looking after his physical and mental health.
“First and foremost, everyone needs to appreciate and understand Ben as a person,” Mills said.
“It’s been good to see him overcome a lot and put his mind to the task of being able to look after his mind, body and soul.”
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