‘He’s got a lot of fire’: Mills rates Simmons’ hunger, NBA champion up for NBL debut

Australian star Patty Mills is all-in on mentoring Ben Simmons and helping his compatriot find his best form again.

Mills again spoke glowingly about the 25-year-old who joined him at the Brooklyn Nets last week after a blockbuster trade for James Harden.

The Nets were rated as a title chance at the start of the season but had lost 11 of their last 12 games heading into Friday’s clash (AEDT) with New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mills felt his side had hit reset since the trade.

Simmons is yet to play for the Nets and his debut is yet to be decided. He is with the team and spoke to the media this week for the first time this season.

The Nets’ high-performance staff want to work with Simmons first to boost his conditioning and make sure his mental health issues are well-managed as he hasn’t played an NBA game since last season’s playoffs, but Mills is impressed with what he has heard from Simmons.

Kevin Durant is out injured and may not return until after the All-Star break while Kyrie Irving can’t play games in New York while the city has a vaccine mandate in place.

New Nets forward Ben Simmons with teammate Kevin Durant.Credit:AP

“I see a real hunger-ness from him,” Mills said on Thursday (AEDT).

“His demeanour and his desire not only to get back on the floor but make a significant impact – he’s got a lot of, I believe, fire built up underneath him that has a desire to get back and be the player that he is, and even get better, and even grow and even develop.

“And that’s one thing that I’m excited to be in the same room and locker room as him to do my part to help him develop and help him grow and help in any way possible there.”

Mills recalled he first met Simmons when the player was in primary school as he had played against Simmons’ brothers at junior level, and he thinks the Nets can boost Simmons.

“Being in this environment, being with us, spirits are high,” Mills said of Simmons.

“I think he can feel the energy of the group and where we’re at, at the moment, and where we’re trying to be.”

Clark closes on debut, Chinese stars bring fans to NBL

Sydney’s NBA import Ian Clark appears set to make his full debut for the team against Perth Wildcats in Sydney on Saturday night.

The 2017 NBA championship winner with Golden State Warriors brings a level head and a rock-solid game to the Kings who will benefit from his experience and sturdy play.

New Kings recruit Ian Clark.Credit:Getty Images

Clark suited up last Sunday but was never going to play against Brisbane as he arrived in Australia earlier on the weekend, but he has turned up in excellent condition and should be ready to fire against the Wildcats.

The NBL continues to reap the rewards from signing Chinese centres Zhou Qi and Liu Chuanxing as it recorded two million viewers in China for the match-up between Zhou’s South East Melbourne Phoenix and Liu’s Brisbane Bullets in January.

Zhou has a big following in his homeland due to his time in the NBA and his success in the Chinese Basketball Association.

He’s also on track for a stellar NBL season and looks a candidate for the league’s defensive player of the year award.

The two clubs meet again on Saturday, and the league will be hoping a similar audience tunes in.

Special honour for Penny Taylor

Australians Opals great Penny Taylor will be inducted into the women’s basketball hall of fame in Knoxville, Tennessee on June 12.

Taylor won three WNBA titles with Phoenix Mercury and a WNBL title with the AIS team while winning a FIBA Women’s World Cup gold medal with the Opals and two Olympic silver medals.

Australian basketball great Penny Taylor.Credit:Tim Clayton

The 40-year-old Victorian retired in 2016 after a lengthy career in which she played almost non-stop in both the WNBA and Europe from 1999 until a knee injury in 2012.

Taylor, who is married and has two children with US superstar Diana Taurasi, is worthy of FIBA hall of fame consideration too, considering her prolonged success in the US, Australia and Europe.

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