Nets’ Patty Mills named finalist for 2021-22 NBA Sportsmanship Award

In his first season with the Nets, Patty Mills has made an impact not just on the stat sheet but also with his character.

It appears the league has taken notice as well which is why Mills has been named a finalist for the 2021-22 NBA Sportsmanship Award, representing the Atlantic Division.

The award, which was first introduced during the 1995-96 season, honors the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.

The Australian-native, who spent the last 10 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, has been effective for Brooklyn this season in both a starting role and coming off the bench.

With each team nominating a player for the award, the finalists have now been cut down to six with Mills, Cleveland Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo, Denver Nuggets’ Jeff Green, Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. and Phoenix Suns’ Mikal Bridges all in the mix.

Mills is looking to become the first Nets player — both Brooklyn and New Jersey — to win the award.

In 75 games, Mills has tallied career highs in starts (46), minutes per game (29.3), and points per game (11.8). The 13-year veteran has nailed 40.1 percent of his shots from deep.