US in awe as Patty Mills makes stunning start to Brooklyn Nets career

Patty Mills has continued his Tokyo hot streak, making an incredible start to the NBA season with his new team the Nets.

Patty Mills was on fire on day one of the new NBA season. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

It wasn’t the result the Nets were after but Patty Mills hasn’t taken long to make his mark in Brooklyn.

The Aussie basketballer was on fire in his side’s season-opening clash against reigning champions Milwaukee, showing the sort of shooting prowess Philadelphia must wish his countryman Ben Simmons possessed.

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The Bucks won 127-104 but it wasn’t all bad news for their opponents from New York, as Mills — who moved to Brooklyn after nearly 10 years with the San Antonio Spurs — wasted no time endearing himself to a new fan base.

Coming off the bench against the Bucks, the 33-year-old was only interested in shooting from distance — with spectacular results.

He drained five three-pointers from five attempts in his first nine minutes on the court. At halftime, the veteran was level on 15 points with superstar teammate James Harden, while only Bucks spearhead Giannis Antetokounmpo (18 points) did more damage on the scoreboard in the opening half.

Mills’ accuracy from downtown continued in the second stanza, nailing two more long bombs to finish the game seven from seven with efforts from beyond the arc — giving him 21 points for the match and a 100 per cent conversion rate from three-point range.

Mills impressed on defence too, the diminutive 1.85m star pulling off a block on Brook Lopez, who stands 2.13m tall.

Patty Mills has carried on where he left off with the Boomers. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Australia fell even more in love with Mills during the Olympics as he inspired the Boomers to a historic bronze medal in Tokyo. Now America — and Brooklyn supporters in particular — were gaining a deeper appreciation of what the veteran can offer a super team already loaded with megastars like Harden and Kevin Durant.

NBA writer Chris Milholen, who covers the Nets, tweeted: “Patty Mills didn’t take long to prove why he was the biggest off-season addition to this Nets team.”

Rob Perez wrote: “Quickest way to get over your ex is to hook up with someone else. Enjoy Patty Mills, Nets fans, the man is going to go berserk all season in this offence.”

Basketball reporter Anthony Puccio said: “Patty Mills is so much fun to watch.”

Mills even caught the attention of former NFL star turned broadcaster Shannon Sharpe. “W/o (without) Patty Mills, Nets would be down 30 right now. He’s going to be huge for Nets this season.”

Mills’ addition to Brooklyn has taken on even greater importance given Kyrie Irving isn’t playing because he has refused to be vaccinated against Covid-19, leading the franchise to bar him from team activities.

Mills was hot property during the NBA free agency period and signed a $16 million, two-year deal with the Nets after nearly a decade at the Spurs.