Patty Mills

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Lore & Background

Mills' time with the Spurs was defined by resilience and unexpected breakthroughs. After signing on March 27, 2012, he immediately made his mark, posting career highs of 34 points and 12 assists in a single game against the Golden State Warriors on April 26, 2012. This performance set the record for the highest single-game score by an Australian in NBA history at that time. The following season presented heartbreak; Mills missed the final four games of the 2013 NBA Finals due to an abscess removal on his right foot as the Spurs fell to the Miami Heat in seven games. However, he returned stronger for the 2013–14 campaign, playing a team-high 81 games and averaging a career-high 18.9 minutes per game. His leadership shone brightest in Game 5 of the 2014 NBA Finals against Miami, where he scored 14 of his 17 points in the third quarter to propel San Antonio to a 104–87 series-clinching victory and their first title since 2007.

In Their Own Story

The path to the Spurs championship was paved with intense competition and personal determination. Mills had declared for the 2009 NBA draft after two years at Saint Mary's, where he set a freshman record with 472 points. Selected 55th overall by Portland, his rookie season was hampered by a fractured fifth metatarsal, limiting him to just 10 games and averaging 2.6 points. A brief return to Australia in 2011 saw him score 28 points for the Melbourne Tigers before an injury and subsequent release from the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China. It was his re-signing with San Antonio that unlocked his potential. On July 11, 2014, he signed a three-year, $12 million contract, cementing his role as a trusted veteran. His ability to score in bursts allowed him to log 1,527 minutes in 2013–14, more than the previous four seasons combined for him. This surge culminated in the championship run, where his scoring outbursts in critical moments helped secure the franchise's fifth title.

Reader's Guide

Patty Mills is a dynamic guard known for his three-point shooting and leadership qualities. His career trajectory highlights the importance of seizing opportunities: after being assigned to the Idaho Stampede early in his tenure with Portland, he was recalled and eventually found stability in San Antonio. Fans should note his specific milestone performances, such as scoring 23 points in a loss to Golden State on April 15, 2013, which helped the Spurs reach the Finals that year. His physical transformation during the 2013 offseason, where he lost weight and lowered body fat, directly contributed to his increased minutes and effectiveness. While he played only two seasons with Portland, averaging 5.5 points in 64 games during 2010–11, it was his nine-year tenure with the Spurs that defined his professional legacy. His journey from a ball boy for the Canberra Cannons to an NBA champion illustrates a steady climb fueled by consistent performance and adaptability within the system.

Did You Know?

• Mills was the third Indigenous basketball player to represent the Australian national team in 2007.
• He scored a career-high 34 points against the Golden State Warriors on April 26, 2012, setting an NBA record for an Australian player at that time.
• Mills missed the final four games of the 2013 NBA Finals due to an abscess removal on his right foot.
• In the 2014 NBA Finals Game 5, he scored 14 of his 17 points in the third quarter to help clinch the championship.
• Mills was awarded the RE Staunton Medal at the U20 Nationals in Perth in January 2006.