Basketball: Australian Opals and WNBA star Leilani Mitchell to launch coaching career with Maitland Mustangs

Mitchell was part of the Australian Opals team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and has just completed the WNBA season playing with the Washington Mystics.

In what will be her first foray into coaching, Mitchell will join the Mustangs at the end of the Australian WNBL season in which she will be playing for Bendigo Spirit.

The Mustangs have also re-signed Waratah Champions League coach of the year Luke Boyle as head coach of the men's team.

Mustangs basketball manager Rebekah Wallace said the Mustangs men's and women's teams could not be in better hands for the 2022 NBL East One season.

Wallace, who played for the Mustangs for a decade, said Mitchell's appointment would be huge boost for women's basketball in the Hunter.

She said the Opals star would be a non-playing coach as she begins the next stage of her career.

"She is reaching what I guess you would say the twilight of her career. She has a contract with Bendigo and this WNBL season and arrives there on November 5 to start," Wallace said. "She is looking at turning her on-court career to a career in coaching post playing and we're going to be her starting point.

"It's really exciting to bring someone like Lei, with her knowledge and experience and overall persona as well, to Maitland. She is really laid back and very giving in nature I think she will be a fantastic fit for our club."

Mitchell, 36, was twice named the WNBAs most improved player during her 13-year career.

The diminutive point guard played college basketball with Utah and Idaho before drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in 2008 only to be traded to New York Liberty where she made her WNBA debut.

In Australia, she has won WNBL championships with the Sydney Flames (2016-17), Canberra Capitals (2018-19) and Southside Flyers (2020) and is a three-time winner of the finals MVP.

Meanwhile, Australian Boomers go-to man Patty Mills is poised to play a key role for the Brooklyn Nets when they tip-off the new NBA season at the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks.

Milwaukee's roster from their six-game victory over the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals remains mostly unchanged - losing PJ Tucker but a fit-again Donte DiVincenzo returning.

Brooklyn are healthy but still shorthanded with Kyrie Irving unable to participate due to being unvaccinated against COVID-19.

Instead they will rely more on the playmaking of James Harden.

They also can now call on the experience of free-agent addition Mills - after his 10-year spell at the San Antonio Spurs included an NBA title - to help fill the production void during Irving's absence.

In the other game on opening night, the Golden State Warriors visit the Los Angeles Lakers.

Primarily off the bench last season, Mills averaged 10.8 points, 2.4 assists and shot 37.5 per cent from three-point range.

His input during Irving's absence could be invaluable, with the Nets among the favourites to win it all - with or without their All-Star guard.

In the other game on opening night, the Golden State Warriors visit the Los Angeles Lakers.

The revamped Lakers have retained just three players from last season's roster with LeBron James and Anthony Davis now surrounded by veteran stars Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, DeAndre Jordan, Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard.

While James expects some hiccups he expects the changes to pay off.

"I think nothing is worth having if it's not worth working for," he said.

The Warriors return with a renewed belief as All-Star guard Klay Thompson gets closer to a comeback after two seasons lost through injury and big man James Wiseman expected back from a torn meniscus in his knee.

With Stephen Curry, the league's reigning scoring champion, running the show the Warriors are ready to contend again.

Five months ago, Kevin Durant's thre-pointer dramatically tied Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals against Milwaukee in Brooklyn.

The Bucks went on to dominate overtime, survive Durant's dominance and beat the Nets.

A month later, Giannis Antetokounmpo helped Milwaukee celebrate their first NBA title in 50 years.

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks receive their championship rings and raise their title banner on Tuesday, all while turning the page to begin their defence of the title when they host Durant and the Nets on opening night.