How will the Brooklyn Nets fill their guard rotation without Kyrie?

With Kyrie sidelined, Patty Mills is in for the opportunity of a lifetime with the Brooklyn Nets

Following another summer of heroics as the main act on the Australian national basketball team, Patty Mills is in line for another chance to compete at the highest level of his craft. A staple of the San Antonio Spurs organization for a decade, Mills carries both an innate wealth of personal basketball knowledge along with the teachings of a franchise lauded for its championship pedigree.

Even before it was confirmed that Irving would be separated from his team, Mills was in line for a tremendous season off the Nets’ bench. Like his former franchise, Mills oftentimes flies under the radar amongst NBA fandom despite making a tremendous impact for every one of his teams both on and off the court.

There’s no denying that Mills is one of the best off-ball players in basketball. He’s a quick-witted decision-maker who whips the ball around the court without hesitation to generate high-quality shots. Never concerned with personal production over team success, Mills is constantly moving off the ball to optimize his team’s floor spacing. He’ll make himself available as a release valve for slashing teammates across the court and rattle off jump shots from deep range.

Though if his international basketball performance has shown us anything, it’s that Mills is much more than just an off-ball shooter. He’s a fearless athlete who uses blistering quickness and crafty motions to navigate the court at all times. Whether he’s catching-and-shooting, dribbling through screens, shooting off a dribble handoff, or chucking a triple late in the shot clock, chances are he’s going to nail the jumper. In fact, Mills was in the 96th percentile of all players as a perimeter shooter during the 2020-21 NBA season (per B-Ball Index).

During the Brooklyn Nets’ media day just prior to training camp, Patty Mills emphasized the fluidity of his role in the team’s offense.

“Something I can bring to this team is 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. “If everyone has that mindset, it’s tough to guard already.”

Patty has a lot more to show than just his off-ball antics. A pesky defender who makes up for a lack of size with wit and irritation, Mills isn’t afraid to compete with the greatest athletes in the world—even those who stand a foot taller than him. Coming off his two best scoring seasons in terms of points per game, Mills will assuredly benefit from playing with generational talent in Harden and Durant.

Don’t be surprised if Patty Mills’ performance this season earns him serious consideration for the Sixth Man of the Year award or even Most Improved Player.