Patty Mills

Born on August 11, 1988, Patrick Sammie Mills has cemented his name in the sports world as a professional basketball player for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Emerging from Canberra, Australia, Mills draws his heritage from the Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Australian communities.

In his early life, he was influenced by the athletics and culture of his family. His father, Benny, is a Torres Strait Islander, and his mother, Yvonne, is an Aboriginal Australian, who belonged to the Stolen Generations. As a descendant of an indigenous land rights activist, Eddie Mabo, the understanding of his mother’s past became a turning point in shaping his identity as an Indigenous Australian.

The indigenous athletic heritage further continues, as his uncle, Danny Morseu, became the second Indigenous Australian to participate in the Olympics for basketball. Following his uncle’s footsteps, he became the third Indigenous Australian to represent his country at the Olympics in the same sport, thirty years later. He also shares his roots with a list of fellow athletes including rugby league players Edrick Lee, Brenko Lee, and basketball player Nathan Jawai.

Mills’ athletic journey started at the tender age of four when he joined an indigenous local club established by his parents, known as “The Shadows”. As a youngster, he served as a ball boy for the Canberra Cannons of the National Basketball League. During this time, he built a close relationship with David Patrick, a player for the Cannons and his future coach at Saint Mary’s College of California.

While Mills had an opportunity to pursue Australian rules football, the allure of basketball was too tempting to resist. His exceptional performance at the Australian Olympic Youth Festival in 2005 marked an important milestone in his budding sports career, indicating his promising future to the world.

He moved from Canberra’s Marist College in 2004 to furthering his academics and sport at the Australian Institute of Sport and Lake Ginninderra College. His talent was readily acknowledged, earning him the prestigious RE Staunton Medal at the U20 Nationals in Perth in January 2006. Furthermore, he played a vital role in Australia’s victory against New Zealand, that led them to qualify for the 2007 Junior Men’s World Championships.

The same year, he was selected into the extended Australian Boomers squad being the youngest athlete, which precedes the 2006 FIBA World Championship. In July, he received the 2006 Junior Male Player of the Year title at Basketball Australia’s annual Junior Basketball Awards. Notably, he earned multiple accolades in the same year including “the most promising new sports talent” at the 2006 Deadlys Awards, the 2006 Australia Basketball Player of the Year, and the National Sportsperson of the Year by the NAIDOC.

An exciting turn came in November 2006 when Mills agreed to play college basketball for Saint Mary’s College of California beginning in the 2007–08 season. He gained the WCC Newcomer of the Year and received All-WCC First Team honors, which contributed in bringing glory back to Gaels after nearly two decades. His performance in the subsequent season surpassed expectations, which led him to declare himself for the NBA draft forsaking his remaining two years of college.

Mills was chosen by the Portland Trail Blazers as the 55th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft, making him the first Saint Mary’s player since 1983 to be drafted, and the highest pick since 1961. After a few setbacks, Mills finally made his NBA debut in January 2010 and stood out in his rookie season.

Mills continued with the Portland Trail Blazers for another season in the 2010-11, however, due to the 2011 NBA lockout, he returned to Australia and played for the Melbourne Tigers, and later for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China.

In March 2012, Mills returned to the United States and signed with the San Antonio Spurs, where he went on to become an indispensable asset for the team. His three-point shooting skills and leadership qualities were instrumental in winning the 2014 NBA championship for the team.

Mills also made a significant contribution to the Australian national team, leading the Australian Boomers to their first-ever Olympic Medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

In August 2021, Mills moved to the Brooklyn Nets following a decision to sign with them, and made a stunning debut scoring 21 points in a match against the Milwaukee Bucks. He became the first player to shoot a perfect 10-of-10 from the three-point line in the first two games of the season and his career in the NBA continues to be a great inspiration for young athletes all over the world.

Overall, Patrick Mills’ journey in the world of professional basketball is a testament to his skills, dedication, and a deep understanding of his indigenous identity. His excellence as a player continues to cast a significant and meaningful impact on and off the court.