Patrick Sammie Mills AM Bio
Patrick Sammie Mills AM is an Australian professional basketball player who most recently played for La Laguna Tenerife of the Liga ACB. Born on 11 August 1988 in Canberra, Australia, Mills is of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Australian descent, making him one of the most prominent Indigenous athletes in Australian sports history. He was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 55th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft after playing two seasons of college basketball for the Saint Mary’s Gaels. Mills has built a reputation as a prolific three-point shooter and是一位领袖人物，在澳大利亚国家队的表现尤其出色，场均得分位列奥运篮球历史前五。他曾随圣安东尼奥马刺队获得2014年NBA总冠军，目前是澳大利亚历史上得分最多的NBA球员。
Early Life and Background
Mills was born in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. His father Benny is of Torres Strait Islander descent from Muralag, while his mother Yvonne is Aboriginal Australian of Kokatha descent. As part of the Stolen Generations, Yvonne and her four siblings were taken from their parents by the Australian state after her parents’ separation in 1949. Mills has spoken about learning of his mother’s past as a defining moment in understanding his Indigenous identity. He grew up immersed in basketball, first picking up the sport at age four with a local Indigenous club called “The Shadows” that his parents established.
His family has deep sporting roots in Australian basketball. Mills’ uncle is Danny Morseu, a former Olympian and the second Indigenous Australian to represent Australia in Olympic basketball. Mills would become the third, following in Morseu’s footsteps thirty years later. He is also cousin to rugby league player Edrick Lee and fellow basketball player Nathan Jawai, further cementing the family’s athletic legacy. Additionally, Mills’ great-uncle is Eddie Mabo, the renowned Indigenous land rights activist.
Path to Basketball
Growing up in Canberra, Mills served as the ball boy for the Canberra Cannons of the National Basketball League, where he developed an early connection with future Saint Mary’s College coach David Patrick, who played for the Cannons during that time. Beyond basketball, Mills excelled at underage Australian rules football at a high level and received offers from the Australian Football League, but ultimately chose to pursue basketball professionally.
In 2005, Mills made a strong impression at the Australian Olympic Youth Festival, an event recognized as a showcase for future elite sporting talents. He attended Marist College in Canberra before moving to the Australian Institute of Sport between 2005 and 2007, where he honed his skills against higher competition. He later attended Lake Ginninderra College. In January 2006, Mills received the prestigious RE Staunton Medal at the U20 Nationals in Perth, and that same year was named the Junior Male Player of the Year at Basketball Australia’s annual Junior Basketball Awards. He was also honored as the “most promising new sports talent” at the 2006 Deadlys Awards and named Australia’s Basketball Player of the Year and National Sportsperson of the Year by NAIDOC.
Patrick Sammie Mills AM Career
College Career (2007–2009)
In November 2006, Mills signed to play for Saint Mary’s College of California, joining fellow Australians Lucas Walker and Carlin Hughes for the 2007-08 season. As a freshman, he started all 32 games and posted 14.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He set Saint Mary’s freshman records with 472 total points that season and dropped 37 points against Oregon on 20 November 2007. Mills earned West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year honors and was named All-WCC First Team.
As a sophomore in 2008-09, Mills averaged 18.4 points, 3.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. He earned All-WCC First Team honors for the second consecutive year. In April 2009, Mills declared for the NBA Draft, forgoing his final two years of college eligibility. His jersey number 13 was eventually retired by Saint Mary’s Gaels in recognition of his achievements.
Portland Trail Blazers (2009–2011)
On 25 June 2009, Mills was selected with the 55th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers, becoming the first Saint Mary’s player drafted since 1983 and the highest draft pick from the school since 1961. After signing with the team on 16 October 2009, he saw limited action as a rookie, appearing in 10 games and averaging 2.6 points. He scored a season-high 11 points in Portland’s regular-season finale against the Golden State Warriors and appeared in three playoff games.
In the 2010-11 season, Mills played in 64 games and averaged 5.5 points and 1.7 assists per game. He scored in double figures 10 times and posted a career-best 23 points in the regular-season finale against Golden State. He appeared in two playoff games that season.
San Antonio Spurs Breakthrough (2012–2021)
On 27 March 2012, Mills signed with the San Antonio Spurs. In his third game with the team on 26 April 2012, he set career highs with 34 points and 12 assists for his first NBA double-double in a win over Golden State. That performance broke Andrew Bogut’s record for the highest single-game score by an Australian in the NBA.
The 2013-14 season marked Mills’ breakthrough year. He appeared in a team-high 81 games, averaging a career-high 18.9 minutes and 10.2 points per game. His 1,527 minutes that season surpassed his total from the previous four seasons combined. Mills played a crucial role in the Spurs’ run to the 2014 NBA Finals, where they defeated the Miami Heat. In Game 5 of the Finals, he scored 14 of his 17 points in the third quarter to help secure the championship. On 11 July 2014, the Spurs signed Mills to a three-year, $12 million contract.
Over his nine seasons with the Spurs, Mills became a fixture of the franchise. He re-signed on 4 August 2017 with a four-year, $50 million contract. In December 2017, he became the third Spur to make 500 three-pointers as a reserve and one of only three Spurs to score 3,000 career points as a reserve. By March 2019, he became the only Spurs player to make more than 120 three-pointers in five different seasons. On 19 January 2020, Mills became the first Australian player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career three-pointers. As of December 2020, he was the Spurs’ longest-tenured player and the only remaining member of their 2014 championship team.
Brooklyn Nets (2021–2023)
On 10 August 2021, Mills signed with the Brooklyn Nets. He made an immediate impact, scoring 21 points on 7-of-7 shooting from three-point range in his debut against Milwaukee. That performance tied the NBA record for most threes made in a debut with a new team. He went on to shoot a perfect 10-of-10 from three-point range in his first two games of the season. On 14 November, he scored a career-high nine three-pointers and finished with 29 points against Oklahoma City.
On 22 November 2021, Mills overtook Andrew Bogut’s record to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer among Australians. On Christmas Day, he tied his career high with 34 points on 8-of-13 shooting from three, breaking the NBA record for most three-pointers made on Christmas Day. On 10 July 2022, Mills re-signed with the Nets on a two-year, $14.5 million contract.
Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, and Utah Jazz (2023–2025)
On 6 July 2023, Mills was traded to the Houston Rockets, who then sent him to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a five-team trade. Four days later, he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. On 29 February 2024, the Hawks waived Mills. He signed with the Miami Heat on 6 March 2024. On 5 September 2024, Mills signed with the Utah Jazz.
On 1 February 2025, Mills was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers alongside Drew Eubanks in exchange for Mo Bamba, P.J. Tucker, and draft considerations. This move reunited him with Kawhi Leonard from their time together on the Spurs and Ben Simmons from their Nets tenure.
La Laguna Tenerife (2026)
On 8 March 2026, Mills signed with La Laguna Tenerife of the Liga ACB and Basketball Champions League. He made his debut on 17 March 2026, scoring 9 points in 16 minutes in a game against Pallacanestro Trieste.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mills is renowned throughout his career for his exceptional three-point shooting ability. His quick release and deep range make him a constant threat from beyond the arc. He has shown the capacity to score in bunches and take over games offensively. His enthusiasm, leadership qualities, and commitment to team culture have been praised throughout his NBA and international career. During the 2010-11 season, Mills and teammate Rudy Fernandez started the “3 Goggles” trend in the NBA, where players made hand gestures mimicking goggles after sinking three-pointers.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Mills has accumulated numerous records and milestones. He became the first Indigenous Australian to carry Australia’s flag at an Olympic opening ceremony at Tokyo 2020. His 42-point performance against Slovenia in the bronze medal game set an Olympic record for points in a medal round game and helped Australia capture its first-ever Olympic medal in men’s basketball. He was named to the Tokyo 2020 All Star Five for his performance. Mills is also the first Australian player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career three-pointers and holds the record for most points scored by an Australian in NBA history.
Patrick Sammie Mills AM Career Highlights
Mills’ career spans over 15 years across multiple leagues and international competitions. His most significant achievements include an NBA championship, multiple international medals with Australia, numerous college honors, and multiple NBA records as an Australian player.
NBA and Professional Highlights
Mills won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, defeating the Miami Heat in five games. He played 15 seasons in the NBA with seven different franchises, accumulating over 700 career games. His career-high 34 points came twice, first with the Spurs against Golden State in 2012 and again with the Nets against the Lakers on Christmas Day 2021. He holds the NBA record for most three-pointers made on Christmas Day with eight.
International Achievements
With the Australian national team, Mills has earned three Olympic medals including bronze at Tokyo 2020. He is the fifth all-time leading scorer in Olympic basketball history and holds the record for most points scored in an Olympic medal round game with 42. Mills represented Australia at five Olympic Games from 2008 to 2024. He became the first Indigenous Australian to be flag bearer at an Olympic opening ceremony. The Australian Olympic Committee inducted him into the Australian Olympic Hall of Fame following his Tokyo 2020 performance.
Other Honors
Mills received The Don Award in 2021, presented by the Australian Sports Commission to recognize the most significant achievement in Australian sport. He has been named Australia’s Basketball Player of the Year and National Sportsperson of the Year. He was inducted into the Australian Olympic Hall of Fame following his Tokyo 2020 Olympic performance.
Patrick Sammie Mills AM Family
Family Background and Heritage
Mills comes from a distinguished sporting and Indigenous heritage. His uncle Danny Morseu was a pioneering Indigenous Australian basketball player who represented Australia at two Olympic Games. Mills followed in Morseu’s footsteps as the third Indigenous Australian to play Olympic basketball, thirty years after Morseu’s debut. His great-uncle Eddie Mabo was the landmark land rights activist whose legal battle led to the recognition of Indigenous land rights in Australia.
Personal Life
Mills met his wife Alyssa Mills (née Levesque), who was also a college basketball player, while attending Saint Mary’s College of California. They married on 8 July 2019 in Waimea Valley, Hawaii. In July 2014, following the Spurs’ championship success, Mills was presented with the keys to the city in Canberra. He is an avid rugby league fan, supporting the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League and the Queensland Maroons in the State of Origin series. He also supports the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League. In 2017, Mills co-wrote a series of books for young readers with Jared Thomas, published as the Game Day! Championship Collection in 2018.
Executive Career
On 10 June 2025, Mills was hired as the general manager for the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball program at the NCAA Division I level, marking his transition from playing to executive roles in basketball operations.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a transitional year for Mills as he navigated his 16th professional season. He began the year with the Utah Jazz after signing in September 2024. In February 2025, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, reuniting him with former teammates and continuing his journeyman career across the NBA. His experience and veteran leadership remained valuable assets for contending teams seeking three-point shooting and bench production. Following his NBA career, Mills signed with La Laguna Tenerife in March 2026 and took on an executive role with the University of Hawaii, signaling his commitment to mentoring the next generation of basketball players.