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Australian star Patty Mills wants to take his Olympic swagger to the Brooklyn Nets and win an NBA championship

Russell GouldNCA NewsWire
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Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: Supplied

Australian NBA star Patty Mills is hoping to harness his “empowering” run to a bronze medal with the Boomers at the Tokyo Olympics and win a championship with the Brooklyn Nets.

After 10 years in San Antonio, Mills joined the Nets as a free agent to link up with superstars including James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

Irving was a no-show at the Nets’ media day in Brooklyn due to health and safety protocols, as he is reportedly not vaccinated against Covid-19.

But Mills was present and talking up his confidence after the bold Olympics showing, where he led Australia to a first-ever medal.

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The 32-year-old said joining a new environment didn’t mean he had to change and instead he would be a better player for the Tokyo experience.

“I think I am who I am and I think being able to never lose sight or touch of who I am because I am the same player,” Mills said.

“Being on the Australian team is who I am and the confidence that I play with and the freedom that I play with is something that’s very empowering, so to be able to bring that here and find my way with that type of swagger is going to be important.

“Watching this team last season and having conversations with people to be able to get ready for this season, knowing it’s a free system and the way that Steve (Nash) coaches and being able to empower that is important and I guess it’s just the identity piece at the end of the day, understanding who you are and not try to be someone else that you aren’t.”

Mills said Durant had convinced him that he could help bring a championship to Brooklyn.

“There was a number of reasons why I‘m here. First of all, it was a conversation with Kevin, purely about basketball, that put me in a mindset of purpose for a championship and being a piece of a puzzle to try and bring a championship to Brooklyn,” Mills said in Brooklyn.

“Now being here and being an important part of this piece of the puzzle for a championship is what gets me very excited. I think it’s the purpose, having all that experience in the past of NBA championships and playing for Australia, I think that the purpose is what makes me tick and being here and knowing that a championship is what we’re after here really gets me going.”

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Camera IconKevin Durant and Patty Mills celebrates together after medal playoff during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Pics Adam Head Credit: News Corp Australia

And conversations with head coach Nash regarding his role this season could see Mills causing offensive “havoc” with his big-name, superstar teammates.

“That’s something that was obviously very intriguing for me to be a part of, be another weapon to our already heavy-armed offensive game, but I think that’s something I can bring to this team, the ability to play both on and off the ball, being able to ping the ball around, fly around, create confusion, create havoc and try to be that threat,” Mills said.

“That‘s a part of the system here, to continue to be a threat on the floor and I think if you have that mindset, if everyone has that mindset, it’s tough to guard already.”

The Nets begin their pre-season campaign against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, October 4.

 

Supplied Editorial Patty Mills on Brooklyn Bridge. Source: Instagram
Camera IconPatty Mills on Brooklyn Bridge. Source: Instagram Credit: Supplied

Originally published as Australian star Patty Mills wants to take his Olympic swagger to the Brooklyn Nets and win an NBA championship

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