Brooklyn Nets' Patty Mills sees hunger in Ben Simmons after trade

NEW YORK — As Brooklyn Nets swingman Ben Simmons gets acclimated to his new team, veteran guard Patty Mills says he sees a «fire built up» inside the 25-year-old former All Star as Simmons restarts his NBA career again after requesting a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers.

«I see a real hunger-ness from him,» Mills said after Wednesday's shootaround. «His demeanor 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.»

Simmons was acquired last week from the Sixers along with Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two future first-round picks in exchange for All-Star guard James Harden and Paul Millsap. Simmons noted again during his introductory press conference on Tuesday that one of the reasons he felt he no longer wanted to play in Philadelphia was due to his mental health and feeling that he wasn't himself after a variety of issues piled up over the years.

Mills, who first met Simmons when he was in primary school in Australia, the equivalent of elementary school in the United States, says that Simmons has fit in «great» since he started getting to know his new teammates over the last few days.

«I think just his mojo, his energy,» Mills said. «Being in this environment, being with us, spirits are high. 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. So he just slides right in there right now — obviously