Mills should come off bench: Bogut

Australian basketball legend Andrew Bogut has declared the Boomers need more from Patty Mills at the Olympics.

Mills’ inconsistent form continued Tuesday morning, as he recorded just five points on two-of-eight shooting, and five turnovers, playing 22 minutes in a six-point loss to the USA.

Bogut says while the 2021 Australian Flag Bearer often has slow starts to his international campaigns, he needs to be more productive.

“Patty wasn’t great tonight. Patty started very similarly the last couple of tournaments in the lead-ups and friendlies,” Bogut said on NBL Media’s The Gold Standard.

“There is concerns obviously looking at the way he’s playing, but this has been kind of a story for him in lead-up games for tournaments and then he has a great tournament … but they’re gonna need more from him.”

Bogut and two-time Olympian Brad Newley both agreed Mills could be better placed coming off the bench, where he can be a spark plug for the Boomers.

“I think there’s something to look at with Dante (Exum). I enjoyed his impact. Maybe do we start with him and maybe bring Patty off the bench as more of a pinch-hitter,” Newley said.

“I’m a similar mind. I’d love to see Patty come off the bench and just play that kind of role,” Bogut added.

The Gold Standard, featuring Australian basketball legends Bogut and Newley, will headline NBL Media’s Olympic coverage. The duo will analyse the Boomers’ on-court performance, while also breaking down all the latest news from the squad in the lead-up to the Olympics and during the tournament. The next episode will be available on tomorrow, after Australia faces Serbia in a warm-up game in Abu Dhabi.

Bogut is a three-time Olympian, having represented the Boomers in 2004, 2008 and 2016. Newley has also been on the biggest stage, playing for Australia at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

The Gold Standard is available on all of the NBL’s digital channels.