Patty Mills - Australia’s basketball icon with Olympics and NBA success

Patty Mills led the Australian men’s basketball team to a historic bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 Olympics and is one of the most accomplished basketball players from Down Under.

Known for his outside shooting as well as leadership skills, Mills made his fifth Olympic appearance with the Boomers at Paris 2024.

He won the NBA title with San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and is currently going strong with the Miami Heat. Mills, who made his NBA debut in 2009, has also played for Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks.

Patty Mills’ early days

Born on August 11, 1988, in Canberra, Patty Mills first took up basketball as a four-year-old. His uncle Danny Morseuis is a two-time Olympian, having represented Australia at Moscow 1980 and LA 1984 Olympics.

Having played both basketball and Australian rules football as a kid, Mills turned down the opportunity to pursue a career in the Australian Football League (AFL) and began his journey in basketball at the Australian Institute for Sport.

He was included in the extended Boomers squad ahead of the side’s 2006 FIBA World Championships, the youngest to ever achieve such a feat.

He began his collegiate career with Saint Mary’s in California and on the back of consistent performances, he was included in the Australian national team for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

He was the top-scorer for the Boomers, scoring 14.2 points per game and even recorded 20 points in the quarter-final loss to eventual winners USA.

Mills was recognised as the Australian International Player of the Year and awarded the Gaze Medal in 2008 and 2010.

Patty Mills’ NBA title with Spurs

Following brief spells with Portland Trail Blazers, Melbourne Tigers and Xinjiang Flying Tigers, Mills signed with San Antonio Spurs in 2012.

Mills helped the Spurs win the NBA title in 2014. After suffering a heart-breaking loss to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat the previous year, Spurs achieved glory by winning the best of seven-game series with two matches to spare.

In the series-clinching game five of the 2014 NBA Finals, Mills scored 14 points to help his side win their fifth NBA Championship. He signed for Brooklyn Nets in 2021 after spending 10 years with Spurs. He played for Atlanta Hawks before joining Miami Heat in 2024.

Patty Mills at the Olympics

At the London 2012 Olympics, Mills proved to be decisive in Australia’s final group game and ensured the Boomers’ place in the knockout rounds. However, they suffered a quarter-final exit after losing to eventual winners USA.

At the Rio 2016 Olympics, the Boomers made their first Olympic semi-final appearance since Sydney 2000.

In the bronze medal match against Spain, Australia suffered a heartbreaking 89-88 after conceding two free throws in the dying minutes of the game.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Patty Mills became the first Indigenous Australian to be the flag-bearer for Australia at the Olympics Opening Ceremony. He joined swimmer Cate Campbell and shared flag-bearing responsibilities in Tokyo.

Captaining the Boomers, Mills also had a memorable Olympic campaign in Tokyo where he averaged more than 21.2 points per game as they went undefeated against Nigeria, Italy, Germany and Argentina.

They suffered yet another defeat to the USA in the semi-finals but in the bronze medal match, the Boomers managed to secure glory this time after the heartbreak of Rio 2016.

Mills recorded 42 points and nine assists against Slovenia to secure the Australian national basketball team’s first ever Olympic medal in the form of a bronze at Tokyo 2020.

The Boomers missed out on a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics after losing to Serbia in the quarter-finals.

Patty Mills’ records, trophies, honours and achievements

• Captain of Australia’s bronze medal-winning Tokyo 2020 Olympics team
• 2014 NBA Champion with San Antonio Spurs
• First Australian in NBA history to achieve 1000 3-pointers
• Most NBA games played by an Australian
• Four-time Oceania Champion
• Two-time Gaze Award medallist
• 2022 NBA Sportsmanship Award