Shake Milton spent the first five seasons of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, entering the NBA as a humble two-way player before earning a four-year deal with the club after his rookie season. The 6-5 combo guard was one of the better reserves in the league during the 2020-21 season, as he averaged 13 points across 63 games and finished 12th in Sixth Man of the Year voting. Not bad for the 54th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. The former SMU standout bettered his rebounding and shot creation over his next two seasons in Philadelphia. He evolved into a more efficient shooter and had an effective field goal percentage of 53.5 in 2022-23, the same season he appeared in a career-high 76 games and averaged 20.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists on impressive 51.8/41.3/97.0 splits in 11 starts. Milton was not an explosive athlete. He was far from a lockdown defender. But when trusted to fill a larger offensive role for the 76ers, he proved he could be just as productive as anyone. “I think for me, it’s just always about being aggressive and then making the right reads,” Milton said. “I think when you’re aggressive, it kind of draws in the defense. I think on that end, that just kind of comes naturally, just scoring and being a playmaker of that sort.” The 76ers allowed Milton’s contract to expire following the 2022-23 season, making him an unrestricted free agent. They signed high-profile guards such as Kyle Lowry, Patrick Beverly, Buddy Heild and Danny Green in an attempt to maximize Joel Embiid’s prime. That same offseason, Milton would sign a two-year, $10 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Chaos followed. Last season he was traded to the Detroit Pistons in the deal that sent Monte Morris to Minnesota. He was later bought out by the Pistons then signed a free agent deal with the Knicks in March once he cleared waivers. He rarely saw the court under Tom Thibodeau. In July, Milton and Mamadi Diakite were added to the Mikal Bridges trade to finalize the deal, a move that reportedly allowed the Knicks to avoid a $178 million hard cap of their team salary. Diakite was re-routed to the Memphis Grizzlies for Ziaire Williams and a 2030 second-round pick. Milton signed a three-year deal worth $2.8 million this season. “I was able to regroup and I’m definitely glad to be in Brooklyn. It’s been amazing,” Milton said. “From the staff, the people, getting to come to work every day is a blessing because it’s basketball. At the end of day, you’re doing what you love to do. So, you know, I’m in a good place.” Milton initially appeared to be an odd addition for the Nets. The franchise is in a rebuild. Young talent is expected to be prioritized. And the 28-year-old was viewed as a questionable fit given the team’s current timeline. Milton is entering his seventh NBA season and appeared to be on a statistical decline. Not much was expected of him beyond adding veteran depth at low cost. When it came to identifying another reserve ball handler behind Dennis Schröder and Ben Simmons, fans were focused more on former lottery pick Killian Hayes, who was added to the training camp roster on an Exhibit 10 deal. However, Hayes has missed each of the Nets’ first three preseason games because of hip soreness, which has created more backcourt minutes for Milton. And the veteran guard has taken full advantage of his extended opportunities so far in exhibition play, averaging 12.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists over his first three appearances in Brooklyn while shooting a blistering 73.7% from the field and 74.1% from the free throw line. In the Nets’ 131-92 defeat of the Washington Wizards on Monday, Milton went 6-of-7 from the field with three assists in just 18 minutes. In his return to Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday, he went 5-of-9 from the field and tallied three more assists. So far, he has been far more productive than anyone expected. Yet when reporters spoke to Milton after shootaround on Monday morning, he said he was still searching for clarity regarding his role this season. “I don’t really think it’s my job to worry about it,” Milton said. “I think for all of us, he said that nobody should have any expectations about anything. So, if you want something, you have to go get it. Knowing where you can fit in, where you can make an impact, bringing it every single day.” The Nets have no true point guards on the roster after Schröder. Milton can organize, get to the rim, run pick-and-roll, push the pace. No one else on the roster is equipped to handle those responsibilities consistently. However, according to head coach Jordi Fernandez, defense will be Milton’s path to extended minutes in Brooklyn. He wants to see more from him at that end of the court, on and off the ball. “I want him to be better defensively,” Fernandez said. “I know Shake scores, that’s what his superpowers are. I’m putting him in a tough spot because I’m asking him to bring the ball up and be a point guard. Is it going to happen during the season? I don’t know, but right now that’s what I’m asking him to do.”