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Broekhoff hopes to follow Ingles' path

NBA

Ryan Broekhoff's path to the NBA took him to Turkey and Russia, two unconventional stops by NBA standards, but he has always had the perfect role model in Joe Ingles.

Like fellow Australian Ingles before him, Broekhoff played professionally in Europe for five years before he realised a dream by debuting in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks this season.

The pair share the same management agency and the similarities extend to their skill set, with both men deadly shooters from three-point range - a prized commodity in the modern NBA.

"His career path is something I tried to set mine on," Broekhoff says of his Boomers teammate.

"Go down the European route, have some good years over there and then try make the jump like he has."

A 201cm swingman with a lethal outside jumpshot, Broekhoff shot an outstanding 50 percent from three-point range during his last season in Europe with Lokomotiv Kuban.

Three years older at 31, Ingles is already firmly established as one of the premier outside shooters in the NBA.

Since entering the league in 2014, his three-point shooting percentage (41.4) ranks fifth among all players with 500 made three-point attempts.

The only names ahead of him -- Stephen Curry, J.J. Redick, Kyle Korver and Klay Thompson -- are NBA shooting royalty.

Ingles is averaging a career-high 13.4 points per game this season and is improving as he ages into his 30s, a rare feat in a league dominated by younger players.

"He just can do so many things. He's very versatile," Broekhoff says of Ingles.

"It makes him very complete in this league and very hard to guard night in and night out."

Before joining the Jazz in 2014, Ingles excelled with European powerhouses Barcelona and Maccabi Tel Aviv and he is confident Broekhoff can replicate his success in the U.S.

"I think that he will just get better and better the more that he is around the NBA," says Ingles.

"He's in a similar situation to me."

Broekhoff played an NBA career-high seven minutes and 31 seconds in the Mavericks' 50-point victory over Ingles, Dante Exum and the Jazz last week.

The modest playing time so far is a far cry from what he experienced in Europe but he recognises it's part of a transition process and he must continue to prove himself each step of the way.

Promisingly, Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle believes in what Broekhoff can do.

"We love having him," says Carlisle. "He's a terrific system player and someone who just knows how to play. He's a great shooter."

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