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'Perfect': NBA fans stunned by thrilling Patty Mills debut

chris young
Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Patty Mills shot a perfect 7-7 from three in his Brooklyn Nets debut.
Patty Mills was on fire in his Brooklyn Nets debut, firing in seven triples without a miss. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Patty Mills has picked up from where he left off at the Tokyo Olympics, turning in a stunning performance in his NBA debut for the Brooklyn Nets.

The Nets faced off against the reigning NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks, who were presented with their championship rings prior to tipping off the first game of the NBA regular season.

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The two teams battled in a hard-fought seven-game series during last season's playoffs, which was impacted by injuries to the Nets' Kyrie Irving and James Harden.

It's a different landscape this season, with Mills joining the Nets but the Eastern Conference favourites losing Irving due to his ongoing stance against being vaccinated for Covid-19.

After a stunning Tokyo Olympics campaign in which he steered Australia to the bronze medal, Mills got off to a perfect start with the Nets.

Although the reigning champions walked away with a convincing 127-104 win, Mills showed his elite shooting and secondary playmaking ability would make him a perfect fit in Brooklyn.

The 33-year-old finished with 21 points coming from a perfect 7-7 shooting from three-point range.

The Aussie fan favourite captured a slice of history in the process, becoming the first player in NBA history to take seven or more triples in his debut and hit all of them.

NBA fans were impressed with Mills' efforts on his Nets debut, with his role likely to become increasingly important for the team with Irving indefinitely sidelined.

Unfortunately for Mills, his impressive debut was overshadowed by Milwaukee's impressive season-opening showing, lead by Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The 'Greek Freak' finished with 31 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in a dominant display, while a number of the Bucks' role players stepped up after starting point guard Jrue Holiday left the game with a heel injury before the second half.

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When last he played the Nets, Antetokounmpo went toe to toe with Durant in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, his Bucks emerging overtime victors.

The series left us with some questions about who was the best player in the East, if not the league.

And when last we saw Antetokounmpo on a court in earnest, he dropped 50 points in the title-clinching victory against the Phoenix Suns, submitting his answer.

Durant was one of only a few Nets engaged enough to match the intensity of a reigning champion riding the confidence of the franchise's first banner-raising night in 50 years.

Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn't be stopped the NBA season opener against the Brooklyn Nets.
Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated the NBA season opener against the Brooklyn Nets, racking up 31 points. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

He registered 32 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in a losing effort. Harden added a lacklustre 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Brooklyn looked old in the team's season debut.

Former All-Stars turned title-chasing mercenaries Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge and Paul Millsap finished with a combined seven points on seven shots in 44 minutes of action.

Head coach Steve Nash prioritised 34-year-old James Johnson — on his sixth roster since February 2020 — over Bruce Brown, a younger and better option who the Nets leaned on for versatility last season.

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