Adam Caporn (Basketball Australia Centre Of Excellence Coach) on future Aussie NBA talent, changes to the AIS program and his NBL career
January 23, 2021
Patrick Mills
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 11/08/88
- Place of Birth: Canberra (ACT)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 183
- Weight (KG): 84
- Junior Assoc: ACT - Shadows
- College: Saint Mary's (2007–2009)
- NBL DEBUT: 7/10/11
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 19/11/11
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 23
- NBL History: Melbourne 2012
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Mills was born and raised in Canberra, Australia, and is of Torres Strait Islander, Aboriginal Australian and Maori descent. Mills first took up basketball as a four-year-old for a local Indigenous club his parents established called “The Shadows”. Growing up, he was the ball boy for the Canberra Cannons during the 2000 NBL season. Mills’ future coach at Saint Mary’s College of California, David Patrick, played for the Cannons during that time and developed a relationship with the Mills family
Mills attended Canberra’s Marist College, but leaving to attend Lake Ginninderra College as part of the Australian Institute of Sport program. Mills received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2005. He spent three years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2005, 2006, 2007).
FAMILY: Mills’ father, Benny, is a Torres Strait Islander (Muralag) and his mother, Yvonne, is Aboriginal Australian (Nyunga), the daughter of a white man and an Aboriginal woman. As part of the Stolen Generations, she and her four siblings were taken from their parents by the Australian state after her parents’ separation in 1949.
Mills’s uncle is former Olympian basketballer Danny Morseu, the second Indigenous Australian to represent Australia at the Olympics in basketball.
His cousin Edrick Lee played basketball for the Brisbane Bullets, then switched to professional rugby league to play in Australia’s NRL with the Canberra Raiders and he is also the cousin of fellow Boomers player Nathan Jawai.
His wife Alyssa Levesque played basketball for Saint Mary’s College of California in the United States of America.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Patrick Mills made his NBL debut with the Melbourne Tigers at 23 years of age. He scored 28 points in his first game.
Mills began his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2010. In 2011, during the NBA lockout, Mills returned to Australia to play in the NBL. After discussions with Melbourne, Adelaide and Wollongong he chose to play with the Tigers during 2011/12 NBA lockout.
Mills was released by the Tigers on 20 November after receiving a offer of about $1 million from a Chinese team, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers. In nine games for Melbourne, he averaged 18.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.
After playing in China with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, Mills returned to the United States in March 2012 and returned to the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs.
He was presented with the keys to the city of Canberra, ACT, Australia, after winning the 2014 NBA Finals with the San Antonio Spurs.
Patrick Mills played one season in the NBL. He averaged 18.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 5 assists in 9 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12 | 23 | Melbourne | 11-17 (6) | 9 | 305.0 | 167 | 21 | 45 | 3 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 22 | 14 | 59 | 140 | 42% | 24 | 69 | 35% | 25 | 31 | 81% | 54% | 51% | 32 | Totals | 9 | 305 | 167 | 21 | 45 | 3 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 22 | 14 | 59 | 140 | 42.1% | 24 | 69 | 34.8% | 25 | 31 | 80.6% | 54% | 51% | 32 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12 | 23 | Melbourne | 11-17 (6) | 9 | 33.9 | 18.6 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 6.6 | 15.6 | 42% | 2.7 | 7.7 | 35% | 2.8 | 3.4 | 81% | 54% | 51% | 32 | Total | 9 | 33.9 | 18.6 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 6.6 | 15.6 | 42.1% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 34.8% | 2.7 | 7.7 | 80.6% | 54% | 51% | 32 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 32 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- AIS (2005–2007)
Mills played the 2005 SEABL season with the Australian Institute of Sport, averaging 11 points and three rebounds while also being part of the AIS team that toured the United States that year.
Mills continued with Canberra for the 2006 SEABL season and won the ABA Youth Player of the Year honour as the SEABL U/21 Australian Youth Player of the Year, averaging 18.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while helping the AIS to a 16–10 regular season record.
The AIS finished third in the league in 2006 after a 12-game mid-season winning streak, while Mills finished third in SEABL assists at 4.37 per game, placed fourth in the Golden Hands Award, scored in double figures in 19 of 21 games and had a season-high 25 points against Kilsyth in the second round of the league championships.
Mills remained with Canberra for the 2007 SEABL season and again earned SEABL U/21 Player of the Year recognition before leaving for Saint Mary’s later that year.
FIBA EXPERIENCE
In 2007, he became only the third Indigenous basketball player to play for Australia behind Olympians Michael Ah Matt (1964) and Danny Morseu (1980–84). He subsequently played for Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where the Boomers defeated Iran, Russia and Lithuania to narrowly advance through to the second round. Due to their poor record (3-2) they would draw #1 ranked USA (5-0), who had earned the moniker of "The Redeem Team" and featured Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade. Despite a 20 point effort from Mills, Australia would lose to USA with Kobe Bryant (25 points) finishing as the game high scorer. The loss would see the Boomers finish in seventh place, their highest finish since 2000.
In 2010, Mills was part of the Boomers squad that competed at the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey, where the team placed 10th. The young roster saw Mills lead the team in scoring (13.8 ppg) and assists (3.4 apg) and David Andersen finish second on the team in scoring (10.4 ppg) while leading the team in rebounds (7.4 rpg).
At the 2012 Olympics, Mills had the highest scoring average with 21.2 points per game, ahead of Kevin Durant of the United States, who averaged 19.5 points per game.
In 2016, Mills was selected to the Boomers squad that competed at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Mills (21.3 ppg and 1.7 apg) would lead the team in scoring, alongside Aron Baynes (9.6 ppg and 5.8 rpg) and Andrew Bogut (9.3 ppg and 5.1 rpg). Mills offensive talents helped Australia reach the semi finals for the first time since 2000. There, Australia would lose to Serbia (61-87) setting up a bronze medal game against Spain. In a game where Australia would be forced to play without Andrew Bogut for the entire second half due to foul trouble and a number of controversial referee calls at the end of the game, Spain was able to gain control of the ball for the final play, giving the Boomers no choice but to foul. Spains Sergio Rodriguez made two free throws with 5.4 seconds left and the Boomers lost (88-89) to finish in fourth-place (equalling Australias best-ever finish in the Olympics).
Mills returned to play for the Boomers as part of the 2019 FIBA World Cup squad. In their opening pool, Australia was able to win all three games, defeating Canada (92–108), Senegal (81–68) and Lithuania (87-82). Behind the high scoring of Mills (22.8 ppg), Aron Baynes (11.4 ppg) and Joe Ingles (10.5 ppg), the Boomers continued through the second round undefeated, notching up wins against Dominican Republic (82-76) and France (100-98). A victory of Czech Republic (82-70) in the Quarter-finals saw the Boomers face Spain in the semifinals in a rematch of the previous years Olympics bronze medal game. Spain trailed for much of the game but surged in the fourth quarter and took the lead 71-70 when Pau Gasol hit two free throws with 8.7 seconds to play in regulation. Mills had two free throws to win the game with 4.8 seconds to play, but he missed the second after making the first to send the game into overtime (71-71). Both teams had chances to win in regulation and in the first overtime, which ended 80-80. It was two 3-point shots by Llull in the second overtime that pushed Spain to one of its largest leads of the game to defeat Australia (95-88) and advance to the gold medal game against the USA. Australia would face lose to France in the bronze medal game (67–59).
Mills became the first Indigenous Australian to be named flag bearer for Australia at a Olympic Games when he was selected for the role alongside Cate Campbell for the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Mills then led Australia through the opening round, defeating Nigeria (84–67), Italy (86-83) and Germany (89–76) to reach the Quarterfinals. Behind the offensive firepower of Mills (19 points), Australia defeated Argentina (97–59) to advance to the semi finals. There they lost to a star studded US team (97–78) which featured Kevin Durant (23 points), Devin Booker (20 points) and Jayson Tatum (11 points). Mills (20 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists) was again the top scorer for Australia. This set up a game against Slovenia for the bronze medal, where Luka Doncic (22 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Mills (42 points, 3 rebounds, and 9 assists) led their respective countries in scoring, with Mills and the Boomers winning the bronze medal (107-93) and making history by securing Australias first ever medal at a major FIBA tournament. Joe Ingles (16 points and 9 rebounds), Jock Landale (14 points and 5 rebounds) and Nick Kay (6 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals in 30 minutes) were also key contributors in the medal winning game. Mills would finish the tournament third in scoring (23.3 ppg) and assists (6.3 apg). Mills would also be named in the tournaments All-Star Five, alongside Doncic (Slovenia), Durant (USA), Ricky Rubio (Spain), and Rudy Gobert (France).
In 2023, Mills earned selection to Australias FIBA World Cup squad. The team went on to finish in tenth place, with a record of 3-2.
The following year, Mills was selected as a part of the 22-player Boomers squad that prepared for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
FIBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 36 | 4 | 124 | 66 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 24 | 58 | 41.4% | 9 | 22 | 40.9% | 9 | 9 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | 35 | 5 | 157 | 93 | 26 | 25 | 1 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 35 | 74 | 47.3% | 12 | 31 | 38.7% | 11 | 11 | 100.0% |
| 2020 | 32 | 6 | 195 | 140 | 21 | 38 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 9 | 49 | 116 | 42.2% | 22 | 56 | 39.3% | 20 | 25 | 80.0% |
| 2019 | 31 | 8 | 271 | 182 | 18 | 31 | 7 | 11 | 28 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 61 | 123 | 49.6% | 23 | 57 | 40.4% | 37 | 43 | 86.0% |
| 2016 | 28 | 7 | 207 | 149 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 53 | 112 | 47.3% | 21 | 61 | 34.4% | 22 | 26 | 84.6% |
| 2012 | 24 | 6 | 180 | 127 | 27 | 13 | 8 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 11 | 49 | 116 | 42.2% | 17 | 48 | 35.4% | 12 | 16 | 75.0% |
| 2010 | 22 | 6 | 160 | 83 | 10 | 25 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 28 | 71 | 39.4% | 11 | 35 | 31.4% | 16 | 19 | 84.2% |
| 2008 | 20 | 6 | 142 | 85 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 31 | 66 | 47.0% | 8 | 22 | 36.4% | 15 | 18 | 83.3% | Total | 48 | 1436 | 925 | 135 | 160 | 32 | 103 | 78 | 15 | 84 | 74 | 330 | 736 | 45% | 123 | 332 | 37% | 142 | 167 | 85% |
FIBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 36 | 4 | 31.0 | 16.5 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 3.8 | 6.0 | 14.5 | 41.4% | 2.3 | 5.5 | 40.9% | 2.3 | 2.3 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | 35 | 5 | 31.4 | 18.6 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 0.2 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 7.0 | 14.8 | 47.3% | 2.4 | 6.2 | 38.7% | 2.2 | 2.2 | 100.0% |
| 2020 | 32 | 6 | 32.5 | 23.3 | 3.5 | 6.3 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 8.2 | 19.3 | 42.2% | 3.7 | 9.3 | 39.3% | 3.3 | 4.2 | 80.0% |
| 2019 | 31 | 8 | 33.9 | 22.8 | 2.3 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 7.6 | 15.4 | 49.6% | 2.9 | 7.1 | 40.4% | 4.6 | 5.4 | 86.0% |
| 2016 | 28 | 7 | 29.6 | 21.3 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 7.6 | 16.0 | 47.3% | 3.0 | 8.7 | 34.4% | 3.1 | 3.7 | 84.6% |
| 2012 | 24 | 6 | 30.0 | 21.2 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 8.2 | 19.3 | 42.2% | 2.8 | 8.0 | 35.4% | 2.0 | 2.7 | 75.0% |
| 2010 | 22 | 6 | 26.7 | 13.8 | 1.7 | 4.2 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 4.7 | 11.8 | 39.4% | 1.8 | 5.8 | 31.4% | 2.7 | 3.2 | 84.2% |
| 2008 | 20 | 6 | 23.7 | 14.2 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 5.2 | 11.0 | 47.0% | 1.3 | 3.7 | 36.4% | 2.5 | 3.0 | 83.3% | Total | 48 | 29.9 | 19.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 6.9 | 15.3 | 45% | 2.6 | 6.9 | 37% | 3.0 | 3.5 | 85% |
NBA EXPERIENCE
Patrick Mills was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers with pick #55 in the 2009 NBA Draft.
With this selection Mills became the first Saint Marys player since 1983 to be drafted, and the Gaels highest pick since 1961.
On 9 July 2009, Mills fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during practice and was subsequently ruled out of the NBA Summer League. On 16 October 2009, he signed a contract with the Trail Blazers. After completing rehabilitation, Mills was assigned to the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League on 29 December 2009.
On 4 January 2010, Mills was called up to the NBA by the Trail Blazers. Mills made his NBA debut that night. He was reassigned to the Stampede on 13 January before being recalled again on 23 January. Mills appeared in 10 games with the Trail Blazers during his rookie season, averaging 2.6 points in 3.8 minutes. During this season.
In 2010/11, Mills played in 64 games for the Trail Blazers, averaging 5.5 points and 1.7 assists in 12.2 minutes. He scored in double figures 10 times and posted what was a career-best 23 points in Portlands regular-season finale on 13 April against Golden State. He also appeared in two playoff games for the Trail Blazers.
After the NBA lockout Mills signed with San Antonio Spurs where he became a strong contributor off the bench. On 26 April 2012, Mills set career highs with 34 points and 12 assists for his first NBA double-double in a 107–101 win over the Golden State Warriors. This saw Mills record the highest single-game score by an Australian in the NBA, surpassing Andrew Boguts 32 points in 2010.
On 13 July 2012, Mills re-signed with the Spurs. In the Spurs second last game of the regular season on 15 April 2013, Mills scored a season-high 23 points in a 116–106 loss to Golden State. The Spurs went on to reach the 2013 NBA Finals, where they lost in seven games to the Miami Heat. Mills missed the final four games of the NBA Finals with an abscess removal on his right foot.
On 24 June 2013, Mills exercised his player option to return to the Spurs for the 2013–14 season. During the offseason, Mills lost weight and dropped his body fat. Mills appeared in a team-high 81 games, including two starts, averaging 10.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in a career-high 18.9 minutes. He logged 1,527 minutes in 2013–14 after totaling 1,737 minutes in his previous four seasons combined. Mills helped the Spurs return to the NBA Finals in 2014, where they again faced the Miami Heat. In Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Mills scored 14 of his 17 points in the third quarter to help lift the Spurs to a 104–87 series-clinching win.
On 11 July 2014, the Spurs signed Mills to a three-year, $12 million contract. He missed the first 31 games of the 2014/15 season with a shoulder injury.
On 25 April 2017, Mills scored a postseason-high 20 points on 5-for-7 shooting in a 116–103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 5 of their first-round series.
On 4 August 2017, Mills re-signed with the Spurs on a four-year, $50 million contract. On 4 December 2017, in a 96–93 win over the Detroit Pistons, Mills became the third Spur to have made 500 3-pointers as a reserve; the others are Manu Ginóbili and Matt Bonner. On 18 December 2017, in a 109–91 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, Mills became one of only three Spurs in franchise history to have scored 3,000 career points as a reserve; the others are Ginóbili and Malik Rose. On 25 February 2018 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mills climbed into fourth place on the Spurs list of all-time 3-pointers made.
In March 2019, Mills became the only Spurs player to make more than 120 3-pointers in five different seasons. On 19 January 2020, Mills made his 1,000th NBA 3-pointer. He is the first Australian player in NBA history to reach that milestone. On 29 December 2020, he became the tenth player in Spurs history to play in 600 games with the team.
On 18 January 2021, Mills set an NBA record for most 3-point shots made for one team as a reserve. On 14 March, Mills overtook Andrew Boguts record for most NBA games played by an Australian by playing his 706th game.
On 10 August 2021, Mills signed with the Brooklyn Nets. On 19 October, Mills made his Nets debut, scoring 21 points on 7-of-7 shooting from deep in a 127–104 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. In his debut, Mills tied the league record for most threes made in a debut with a new team.
On October 22, Mills became the first player to shoot a perfect 10-of-10 from the three-point line in the first two games of the season. On 14 November, Mills scored 29 points on a career-high nine three pointers in a 120–96 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
On 22 November, Mills scored 17 points against the Cavaliers to overtake Andrew Boguts NBA record of most points scored by an Australian. On 14 December, in a 131–129 overtime win over the Toronto Raptors, Mills played a career-high 43 minutes and had a then season-high 30 points on 7-of-14 from three including the game-tying three that sent the game to overtime. On the NBA Christmas game, Mills tied his career-high with 34 points on 8-for-13 from three in a 122–115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. His eight three-pointers made broke the record for the most three-pointers made on Christmas Day.
Mills played 921 games in the NBA. He averaged 8.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- June 28, 2008: As part of a 3-team trade, traded by the Denver Nuggets (as a future 2009 2nd round draft pick) to the Portland Trail Blazers; the Chicago Bulls traded Sonny Weems to the Denver Nuggets; the Chicago Bulls traded a 2009 2nd round draft pick (Jon Brockman was later selected) and a 2010 2nd round draft pick (Jerome Jordan was later selected) to the Portland Trail Blazers; and the Portland Trail Blazers traded Ömer Aşık to the Chicago Bulls.
- June 25, 2009: Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2nd round (55th pick) of the 2009 NBA Draft.
- December 29, 2009: Assigned to the Idaho Stampede of the G-League.
- January 4, 2010: Recalled from the Idaho Stampede of the G-League.
- January 13, 2010: Assigned to the Idaho Stampede of the G-League.
- January 23, 2010: Recalled from the Idaho Stampede of the G-League.
- March 27, 2012: Signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs.
- July 12, 2014: Re-signed with the San Antonio Spurs.
- August 4, 2017: Signed a multi-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs.
- August 10, 2021: Signed a multi-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets
- July 10, 2022: Signed a multi-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets.
- July 6, 2023: Traded by the Brooklyn Nets with a 2028 2nd round draft pick (was later selected) to the Houston Rockets for a 2024 2nd round draft pick (was later selected). 2028 2nd-rd pick is MIL own 2024 2nd-rd pick is BRK own.
- July 8, 2023: As part of a 5-team trade, traded by the Houston Rockets with a 2024 2nd round draft pick (was later selected), a 2029 2nd round draft pick (was later selected) and a 2030 2nd round draft pick (was later selected) to the Oklahoma City Thunder; the Atlanta Hawks traded Alpha Kaba to the Houston Rockets; the Houston Rockets traded Usman Garuba, TyTy Washington Jr., a 2025 2nd round draft pick (was later selected) and a 2028 2nd round draft pick (was later selected) to the Atlanta Hawks; the Houston Rockets traded Kenyon Martin to the Los Angeles Clippers; the Houston Rockets traded Josh Christopher to the Memphis Grizzlies; the Los Angeles Clippers traded a 2026 2nd round draft pick (was later selected) and a 2027 2nd round draft pick (was later selected) to the Houston Rockets; the Los Angeles Clippers traded Vanja Marinkovic to the Memphis Grizzlies; the Memphis Grizzlies traded Dillon Brooks to the Houston Rockets; and the Oklahoma City Thunder traded cash to the Atlanta Hawks. 2027 2nd-rd pick is MEM own 2024 2nd-rd pick is HOU own 2025 2nd-rd pick is MIN own 2026 2nd-rd pick is LAC own 2028 2nd-rd pick is HOU own 2029 2nd-rd pick is HOU own 2030 2nd-rd pick is HOU own.
- July 12, 2023: Traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Atlanta Hawks for Usman Garuba, Rudy Gay, Ty Ty Washington and a 2026 2nd round draft pick (was later selected). 2026 2nd-rd pick is MEM own
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 91% | 97% | 72% | 50% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 32 | 10 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 59 | 140 | 42.1% | 24 | 69 | 34.8% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 36 | Utah | PG | 17 | 0 | 260 | 74 | 21 | 21 | 3 | 18 | 12 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 26 | 76 | 34% | 17 | 57 | 30% | 5 | 5 | 100% | 47% | 45% |
| 2024-25 | 36 | LA Clippers | PG | 12 | 0 | 61 | 37 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 50% | 9 | 18 | 50% | 8 | 9 | 89% | 77% | 73% |
| 2023-24 | 35 | Atlanta | PG | 19 | 0 | 202 | 51 | 20 | 14 | 5 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 19 | 51 | 37% | 13 | 34 | 38% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 50% | 50% |
| 2023-24 | 35 | Miami | PG | 13 | 5 | 213 | 76 | 15 | 20 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 27 | 80 | 34% | 11 | 53 | 21% | 11 | 11 | 100% | 45% | 41% |
| 2022-23 | 34 | Brooklyn | PG | 40 | 2 | 567 | 246 | 44 | 56 | 8 | 36 | 15 | 3 | 30 | 32 | 86 | 209 | 41% | 49 | 134 | 37% | 25 | 30 | 83% | 55% | 53% |
| 2021-22 | 33 | Brooklyn | PG | 81 | 48 | 2346 | 923 | 156 | 183 | 18 | 138 | 51 | 17 | 73 | 112 | 324 | 794 | 41% | 227 | 568 | 40% | 48 | 59 | 81% | 56% | 55% |
| 2020-21 | 32 | San Antonio | PG | 68 | 1 | 1685 | 736 | 116 | 162 | 18 | 98 | 42 | 3 | 66 | 81 | 252 | 611 | 41% | 161 | 429 | 38% | 71 | 78 | 91% | 57% | 54% |
| 2019-20 | 31 | San Antonio | PG | 66 | 1 | 1485 | 767 | 108 | 118 | 22 | 86 | 53 | 6 | 54 | 105 | 258 | 598 | 43% | 154 | 403 | 38% | 97 | 112 | 87% | 59% | 56% |
| 2018-19 | 30 | San Antonio | PG | 82 | 1 | 1908 | 811 | 182 | 245 | 24 | 158 | 49 | 10 | 93 | 129 | 282 | 663 | 43% | 159 | 404 | 39% | 88 | 103 | 85% | 57% | 55% |
| 2017-18 | 29 | San Antonio | PG | 82 | 36 | 2107 | 819 | 154 | 229 | 26 | 128 | 55 | 11 | 106 | 128 | 280 | 682 | 41% | 154 | 414 | 37% | 105 | 118 | 89% | 56% | 52% |
| 2016-17 | 28 | San Antonio | PG | 80 | 8 | 1754 | 759 | 141 | 280 | 24 | 117 | 65 | 3 | 101 | 109 | 273 | 621 | 44% | 147 | 355 | 41% | 66 | 80 | 83% | 58% | 56% |
| 2015-16 | 27 | San Antonio | PG | 81 | 3 | 1662 | 690 | 158 | 226 | 27 | 131 | 59 | 6 | 76 | 102 | 260 | 612 | 42% | 123 | 320 | 38% | 47 | 58 | 81% | 54% | 53% |
| 2014-15 | 26 | San Antonio | PG | 51 | 0 | 801 | 351 | 75 | 87 | 21 | 54 | 28 | 2 | 35 | 58 | 128 | 336 | 38% | 62 | 182 | 34% | 33 | 40 | 83% | 50% | 47% |
| 2013-14 | 25 | San Antonio | PG | 81 | 2 | 1527 | 826 | 169 | 149 | 34 | 135 | 68 | 9 | 63 | 114 | 309 | 666 | 46% | 135 | 318 | 42% | 73 | 82 | 89% | 59% | 57% |
| 2012-13 | 24 | San Antonio | PG | 58 | 2 | 656 | 294 | 50 | 62 | 9 | 41 | 26 | 4 | 39 | 55 | 113 | 241 | 47% | 52 | 130 | 40% | 16 | 19 | 84% | 59% | 58% |
| 2011-12 | 23 | San Antonio | PG | 16 | 3 | 261 | 165 | 28 | 39 | 4 | 24 | 10 | 1 | 26 | 14 | 63 | 130 | 48% | 24 | 56 | 43% | 15 | 15 | 100% | 60% | 58% |
| 2010-11 | 22 | Portland | PG | 64 | 0 | 783 | 353 | 51 | 109 | 19 | 32 | 27 | 1 | 62 | 63 | 135 | 328 | 41% | 47 | 133 | 35% | 36 | 47 | 77% | 51% | 48% |
| 2009-10 | 21 | Portland | PG | 10 | 0 | 38 | 26 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 42% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 4 | 7 | 57% | 48% | 46% | Total | 921 | 112 | 18316 | 8004 | 1491 | 2010 | 268 | 1223 | 581 | 80 | 861 | 1164 | 2855 | 6742 | 42% | 1546 | 4012 | 39% | 748 | 873 | 86% |
NBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 36 | Utah | PG | 17 | 0 | 15.3 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 34% | 1.0 | 3.4 | 30% | 0.3 | 0.3 | 100% | 47% | 45% |
| 2024-25 | 36 | LA Clippers | PG | 12 | 0 | 5.1 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 50% | 0.8 | 1.5 | 50% | 0.7 | 0.8 | 89% | 77% | 73% |
| 2023-24 | 35 | Atlanta | PG | 19 | 0 | 10.6 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 37% | 0.7 | 1.8 | 38% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 50% | 50% |
| 2023-24 | 35 | Miami | PG | 13 | 5 | 16.4 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 6.2 | 34% | 0.8 | 4.1 | 21% | 0.8 | 0.8 | 100% | 45% | 41% |
| 2022-23 | 34 | Brooklyn | PG | 40 | 2 | 14.2 | 6.2 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 5.2 | 41% | 1.2 | 3.4 | 37% | 0.6 | 0.8 | 83% | 55% | 53% |
| 2021-22 | 33 | Brooklyn | PG | 81 | 48 | 29.0 | 11.4 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 4.0 | 9.8 | 41% | 2.8 | 7.0 | 40% | 0.6 | 0.7 | 81% | 56% | 55% |
| 2020-21 | 32 | San Antonio | PG | 68 | 1 | 24.8 | 10.8 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 9.0 | 41% | 2.4 | 6.3 | 38% | 1.0 | 1.1 | 91% | 57% | 54% |
| 2019-20 | 31 | San Antonio | PG | 66 | 1 | 22.5 | 11.6 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 9.1 | 43% | 2.3 | 6.1 | 38% | 1.5 | 1.7 | 87% | 59% | 56% |
| 2018-19 | 30 | San Antonio | PG | 82 | 1 | 23.3 | 9.9 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 8.1 | 43% | 1.9 | 4.9 | 39% | 1.1 | 1.3 | 85% | 57% | 55% |
| 2017-18 | 29 | San Antonio | PG | 82 | 36 | 25.7 | 10.0 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 8.3 | 41% | 1.9 | 5.0 | 37% | 1.3 | 1.4 | 89% | 56% | 52% |
| 2016-17 | 28 | San Antonio | PG | 80 | 8 | 21.9 | 9.5 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 7.8 | 44% | 1.8 | 4.4 | 41% | 0.8 | 1.0 | 83% | 58% | 56% |
| 2015-16 | 27 | San Antonio | PG | 81 | 3 | 20.5 | 8.5 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 7.6 | 42% | 1.5 | 4.0 | 38% | 0.6 | 0.7 | 81% | 54% | 53% |
| 2014-15 | 26 | San Antonio | PG | 51 | 0 | 15.7 | 6.9 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 6.6 | 38% | 1.2 | 3.6 | 34% | 0.6 | 0.8 | 83% | 50% | 47% |
| 2013-14 | 25 | San Antonio | PG | 81 | 2 | 18.9 | 10.2 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 8.2 | 46% | 1.7 | 3.9 | 42% | 0.9 | 1.0 | 89% | 59% | 57% |
| 2012-13 | 24 | San Antonio | PG | 58 | 2 | 11.3 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 4.2 | 47% | 0.9 | 2.2 | 40% | 0.3 | 0.3 | 84% | 59% | 58% |
| 2011-12 | 23 | San Antonio | PG | 16 | 3 | 16.3 | 10.3 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 8.1 | 48% | 1.5 | 3.5 | 43% | 0.9 | 0.9 | 100% | 60% | 58% |
| 2010-11 | 22 | Portland | PG | 64 | 0 | 12.2 | 5.5 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 5.1 | 41% | 0.7 | 2.1 | 35% | 0.6 | 0.7 | 77% | 51% | 48% |
| 2009-10 | 21 | Portland | PG | 10 | 0 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 42% | 0.2 | 0.4 | 50% | 0.4 | 0.7 | 57% | 48% | 46% | Total | 921 | 112 | 19.9 | 8.7 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 7.3 | 42% | 1.7 | 4.4 | 39% | 0.8 | 0.9 | 86% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- China - Xinjiang (2011–2012)
During the 2011–12 season, Mills joined Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association, with reports at the time suggesting the deal could be worth as much as $1 million and, in other reports, as much as $1.5 million.
In 12 games for Xinjiang, he averaged 26.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.3 steals in 34.5 minutes per game while shooting .530 from the field, .494 from three-point range and .739 at the foul line, and he played alongside import teammates including Kenyon Martin, Tim Pickett and Gani Lawal.
On 4 January 2012, Mills was released by Xinjiang after being out for 10 days with a hamstring injury, and with the lockout ending on 8 December 2011 he wanted to return to the Portland Trail Blazers but the Chinese Basketball Association could not guarantee he would receive FIBA clearance until March.
Reports later surfaced that Xinjiang had sacked him for allegedly faking the hamstring injury, which Mills denied.
After failing to get a contract in the NBA during the 2025/26 season, Mills joined La Laguna Tenerife in Spain’s Liga ACB for the second half of the season. This included matchups against former NBL players James Batemon and Keandre Cook, along with Omari Moore.
COLLEGE
In November 2006, Mills signed to play college basketball for Saint Mary's College of California beginning in the 2007/08 season, joining fellow Australians Lucas Walker and Carlin Hughes on the Gaels roster under head coach Randy Bennett.
As a freshman in 2007/08, Mills started all 32 games and led Saint Mary’s in scoring at 14.8 points per game while averaging 2.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals in 32.1 minutes, producing 472 total points to set a Saint Mary’s freshman record for points in a season and earning WCC Newcomer of the Year plus All-WCC First Team honours, with the Gaels reaching the national top 25 for the first time since the 1988–89 season.
Mills’ breakout performance came on 20 November 2007 against then-#11/#12 Oregon, when he set the school freshman record for points in a game by scoring 37 points on 10-for-20 shooting and 13-for-14 free throws while adding five assists and two steals in a 99–87 upset at McKeon Pavilion, and he later scored a team-high 24 points in Saint Mary’s NCAA tournament first-round loss to Miami (FL) as the Gaels finished the season 25–7 overall (12–2 in WCC play) and reached the NCAA tournament as an at-large team.
As a sophomore in 2008/09, Mills raised his production to 18.4 points, 3.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.2 steals in 32.1 minutes, scoring in double figures in 25 of his 26 appearances and ranking among the team leaders in playmaking and defense with 101 assists and 57 steals while hitting a team-best 67 three-pointers, but his season was interrupted when he broke his right hand and missed the final nine regular-season games before returning for the WCC tournament and postseason run.
Mills delivered multiple signature moments during the 2008/09 campaign, including a season-high 31 points against Santa Clara on 9 January 2009 capped by a game-winning three-pointer with 2.4 seconds left, a career-high 10 assists in the NIT second-round win over Davidson when he recorded his first collegiate double-double with 23 points and 10 assists, and a return to action as Saint Mary’s advanced to the NIT quarterfinals before losing 70–66 at San Diego State to close a 28–7 season, with Mills also collecting additional recognition across his two years that included being a two-time All-WCC First Team selection, a two-time WCC Player of the Week as a sophomore (24 November and 8 December 2008), and national award-list mentions such as Bob Cousy Award finalist and a Naismith Trophy midseason top-30 selection.
Mills finished his Saint Mary’s career with shooting splits of 41.5% from the field, 33.1% from three-point range, and 80.6% at the free-throw line before being selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 55th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft after playing two years of college basketball for Saint Mary's, and in February 2015 Saint Mary’s retired his jersey number 13.
AWARDS
- NBA champion (2014)
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2× Gaze Medalist (2008, 2010)
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2× First-team All-WCC (2008, 2009)
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WCC Newcomer of the Year (2008)
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WCC All-Freshman Team (2008)
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No. 13 retired by Saint Mary's Gaels
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ABA Youth Player of the Year (2006)
Related
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