Patty Mills' NBA journey has taken an unexpected turn away from Utah

The Naghiralgal, Meriam and Kokotha man has moved on from his time with Utah Jazz.

Patty mills patrick nba basketball

Patty Mills' extraordinary journey through the peak of the basketballing world continues with his latest sign. Credit: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

Boomers captain Patty Mills has added yet another chapter to his storied NBA career, joining the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers, who bolstered their depth while hunting a playoffs spot, and Utah Jazz, last in the western conference, signed off on the deal ahead of the trade deadline on Thursday (local time).
Mills and Drew Eubanks have been traded to the Clippers in exchange for P.J. Tucker, Mo Bamba, a future second-round draft pick and cash considerations.

The swap will bring the Clippers under the luxury tax threshold, while pitching Mills into a fresh scrap for back-up minutes at the team he made his NBA debut against in 2010.

The longevity of Mills, aged 36 and in his 16th NBA season, is nothing short of remarkable in the star-studded league.

The veteran guard was memorably traded three times in the space of 10 days during the 2023 off-season, eventually landing at the Atlanta Hawks.
Mills has since suited up for Miami Heat and the Jazz, who he averaged 4.4 points for in a 17-game stint while providing much-needed leadership in a young squad.

The Indigenous icon ticked off a major milestone this season, becoming the first Australian to play 1000 NBA games.

Mills' shooting has long been a strong suit, but the Canberra product has garnered plenty of praise from teammates and pundits in the US for his leadership and fervent support from the bench.
Mills, whose 2024-25 deal is worth $US3.3 million ($A5.3 million), is uncontracted beyond the end of this season.

Widely considered Australia's most successful basketballer, Mills' NBA journey started when drafted with pick No.55 in 2009.

It hit an almighty high in 2014, when he made it on to the floor in all five games to help San Antonio defeat Lebron James' Miami Heat in the championship-deciding series.

Mills became the first Indigenous Australian to carry the flag into an Olympics opening ceremony in 2021, when he also led the Boomers to a breakthrough bronze medal.

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2 min read
Published 3 February 2025 11:01am
Updated 3 February 2025 11:09am
Source: AAP


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