Patrick Sammie Mills’ Journey from nothingness to stardom is unique because not many Aboriginal Australians make it big in basketball in Australia and the NBA. From starting off playing basketball on the streets of Canberra to his central role in the NBA in San Antonio and Boomers is a story testament to Patty’s determination, perseverance, and pursuit of dreams. He is known for his alacrity, 3-pointer shooting, and fast dribbling.

Childhood

He was born on 11^th August 1988 in Canberra, Australia. His father, Benny, belongs to Torres Strait Island while his mother, Yvonne, is an Aboriginal Australian. In 1949, after the separation of Yvonne’s parents, she and her four siblings were taken away from their parents as part of Stolen Generations.

Mills was raised in Canberra where he was often faced with racial discrimination and bullying. But his parents taught him to stand up for himself and focus on his passion for basketball. His family loved sports and always encouraged Mills to play.

Family of Patrick Mills

He comes from a family that has a sports and Australian Aboriginal rights defense legacy. Danny Morseu is the second Aboriginal Australian to represent Australia in the Olympics. He is the uncle of Patty Mills.

Eddie Mabo who was a champion of Aboriginal Australian rights and won a landmark case in 1992 for Torres Strait Islander people, is the great uncle of Patty Mills.

Early Playing Career Of Patty Mills

His parents ran a basketball club named “Shadows” for Indigenous Australian children. He started playing for the same club in 1992 when he was only 4.

Another sport that he loved playing and excelled at was Australian Rules football. But later on, he abandoned football and concentrated on Basketball.

Patty Mills was a master craftsman at the court and stood prominent among the players. At the age of 16, he won a scholarship to the Australian Institute Of Sports.

LEARN MORE: BNA SUMMER CAMP 2023

A Star In The Making

A few players have started their careers big. Patty Mills is a glittering star in the galaxy of those amazing players.

• In 2005, Mills emerged as a rising star at the Australian Olympic Youth Festival which is an event considered picking future elite sporting talents.
• He attended Marist College but had to leave in 2004 as he won a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sports.
• At the U20 National games in Perth in January 2006, he won the RE Staunton Medal.
• In 2006 at the SEABL U/21, he averaged 18.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game to help AIS record 16-10 season record. He was named player of the tournament.
• In the 2006 Deadlys Awards, he was named “most promising new sports talent”.
• The same year he was named Australia Basketball Player of the Year and the National Sportsperson of the Year award by the NAIDOC.

A Promising College Career

He played his college career for the Saint Mary’s College California from 2007 to 2009. He was named West Coast Conference (WCC) newcomer of the year and earned the All-WCC First Team honour.

In his season of 2008-09, he scored an average of 18.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.9 steals, and 2.2 steals in 32 minutes as a sophomore and was named WCC player of the week twice from 24^th November to 8^th December. He was subsequently named WCC player of the year for the second year too.

He couldn’t complete his last two years at college after being declared for the NBA draft in 2009.

CLICK HERE: WNBL SEASON 24 ABOUT TO BEGIN

The NBA Career of Mills

• The Portland Trail Blazer (2009-2011)

In the NBA draft in 2009, he was the 55^th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers. Since 1983, he was the first Saint Mary’s player and the highest pick since 1961.

He got injured while practicing in 2009 and thus ruled out of the NBA Summer League. On 4th January 2010, he made his debut for the Blazers. In his rookie season, he averaged 2.6 points.

• San Antonio Spurs (2012–2021)

Patty has played most of his professional basketball for the San Antonio Spurs. He has contributed immensely to the Spurs including winning an NBA championship in 2014. He played 665 games for the Spurs scoring at an average of 9.36 per game.

• Brooklyn Nets (2021-23)

He signed two years contract with the Brooklyn Nets. In his debut for the Nets, he equaled the record for most three-pointers made on a debut.

Mills broke the record of Andrew Bogut when he scored 17 points against the Cavaliers for the most points scored by an Australian in the NBA. He resigned with the Nets on 10^th July worth $14.5 million.

• Atlanta Hawks (2023- Till Now)

Presently, he is playing for the Atlanta Hawks. On 12^th July he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks by the Thunder.

Mills Playing In The NBL and China

Mills returned home after the 2011 NBA lockout. He received several alluring offers from European basketball teams but he turned them down and signed a contract with NBL club the Melbourne Tigers on 29^th August 2011.

In his first game, he scored 28 points. On average, he scored 18.6 points, 5.0 assists, and 2.3 rebounds for the Melbourne Tigers, Australia.

Chinese basketball club the Xinjiang Flying Tigers offered him $1 million and he was released by the Melbourne Tigers. He appeared in 12 games for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, scoring an average of 26.5 points per game.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR THE DK TAYLOR STUDENT ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIP

Patty Mills Playing For The Boomers

The inclusion of Patty Mills in the Australian National Basketball side was fresh air. His debut for the Boomers came in the FIBA Oceania Championship in 2007. Australia won the championship.

In 2008 he represented the national side at the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament. Mills was part of Team Australia in the 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship. Australia won the Gold medal.

He played for Australia in the 2013 and 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship respectively. Mills was pivotal in earning his team Gold medals in both the years.

Patty Mills Representing Australia In The Olympics

After Michael Ah Matt and Danny Morseu, he became the third Indigenous Australian to play in the Olympics.

In the Beijing Olympics, he represented Australia playing 6 games scoring at an average of 14.2 points per game.

Patty Mills was a crucial member of the 2012 London Olympics basketball team. He had the highest scoring average of 21.2 points per game in the 2012 Olympics.

In the 2016 Rio Olympics, he almost got Australia to the medals table in basketball but unluckily his team finished fourth.

Mills had the honour of being a flag bearer when he carried the Australian National Flag at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

He was captain of the team in the Tokyo Olympics helping the Boomers win their first-ever Olympic medal in Men’s basketball. Australia beat Slovenia in the Bronze medal game. He scored 42 points in the all-important game.

Charity Work

Mills has a caring heart. He has poured a huge amount of money into charity work. He raised more than $ 40,000 for the flood-hit areas of Queensland.

He established Indigenous Basketball Australia, a non-profit organization that caters to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.

The whole of his salary from the Covid-disrupted 2020 season was given to “black lives matter Australia”, Black Deaths in Custody, and the “We Got You” campaign.

Private Life of Patty Mills

Mills married Alyssa on 8^th July 2019 in Waimea Valley, Hawaii. He met Alyssa, a basketball player, at Saint Mary’s College California.

Net Worth of Mills

Mills is one of the costliest players in contemporary basketball. In 2023 his estimated net worth is around $ 8 Million.

Patty Mills as Writer

He co-authored a book series with Jared Thomas titled “Game Day! Championship Collection”. The book was published in 2018.

His journey from basketball courts in Canberra to international stardom is the tale of grit, resilience, and paying back to the community. His glittering game stats are a testament to his ability. As Patty continues to tread the path of glory with the Brooklyn Nets and inspire the young generation- many more achievements are expected from the Aussie sensation.