And he has the output to back that up. As the starting floor general of the Australian national basketball team at last year’s London Olympics, the Canberra-born point guard averaged 21.2 points per game, more than any other player at the tournament (including US thoroughbreds Lebron James and Kevin Durant), three of which included a long-range buzzer-beater to sink Russia.
Twelve months later and he finds himself deep on the bench of the most efficient team in basketball, playing limited minutes as the third string point guard of a finely tuned San Antonio Spurs offense in which most of the nominal point guard minutes are distributed between All-Star Frenchman Tony Parker and instant offense combo guard Gary Neal.
As we’ve noted, Mills the NBA basketball player exists only in garbage time, a ceremonious going-through-the-motions injury prevention measure played only when the result of the game has been decided. In the entire 2013 post-season, a war of attrition which has seen the consistently consistent San Antonio Spurs navigate the Los Angeles Lakers, the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies, he has logged an average of just 2.4 minutes per game.
Minutes likely to fall to naught as the finals continue.
Such was the case today in The Spurs’ decisive game one victory over the Evil Empire Miami Heat in which Mills didn’t play a minute.
But Mills the NBA bench warmer energy guy refuses to sit idly. He’s important work to do.
Mills, through seemingly boundless levels of energy and enthusiasm, has become synonymous with a largely thankless NBA role known as the bench warmer energy guy. For more on this we refer to ESPN commentator and former New York Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy.
“You know what I love too, Patty Mills,” Van Gundy said during the Spurs’ closeout Game Four win against the Memphis Grizzlies last week. “Who is Patty Mills? He’s the 12th
guy, a very capable point guard, that is their third point guard, but
if you see him in every Spurs huddle he is leading the spirit. I just
love it. And you saw him there congratulate Parker on his start. I just
love that guy.”
“And there’s my guy,” he continued. “I tell ya, if I ever coach again, this is the type of guys you need to keep the energy up through a long NBA season.”
Case in point?
He gives dap to Tim Duncan.
He is an elite level towel waver.
And he can score in a hurry if he needs to.
Not that he’ll get the chance. But that won’t discourage him.
Patty Mills is the league MVP in enthusiasm and the importance of that cannot be underestimated. Go Spurs.
