If there's a sizeable chip on Patty Mills' shoulder, it obviously isn't wearing him down too much.
Less than a year after returning from major shoulder surgery, the Australian NBA star is a man on a mission, putting up career-best numbers for championship contenders San Antonio.
Just six weeks into the new season, the Canberra product is playing more minutes, dishing out more assists and grabbing more steals than any of his previous six years in the league.
And while he was reluctant to divulge what was driving his new-found success, the normally reserved Mills revealed he had taken an aggressive approach this season.
"There are goals that I keep to myself, but for me, it's a mindset more than anything," Mills told AAP.
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"You've got to go out there with a chip on you shoulder. This is the NBA, not some local league."
The 28-year-old struggled after his return from injury last season, shooting at a career-low 38 per cent from the field, including a sub-par 34 per cent clip from long range.
The Spurs were subsequently knocked out in the first round.
However Mills has come back with aplomb in the new season, detonating opposition teams by converting on more than half of his attempts in eight games.
The St Marys graduate credited a rigorous pre-season, including a two-game stint for the Boomers against New Zealand in August, for his improved shooting.
"It's obviously good to play whenever you get a chance to play a game. You can get into somewhat of a rhythm," he said.
"But we also get a good amount of time before training camp where we get to play every day of the week. That's when we make gains as players. It's a crucial time where I believe I got better."
Another one reason why the 28-year-old, who continues to be groomed as the successor to ageing franchise point guard Tony Parker, has reached another level is the looming Olympics in Rio next year.
With eight Aussies in the NBA - the fourth most among non-US nations - the country has never been better placed to claim its first ever medal in men's basketball.
"It's definitely in the back of your mind because it's such a big moment. We just need to spend some time together. It's definitely a goal of ours," Mills said.
