When Australian basketballer Patty Mills was playing well at St Mary’s college in California, there was serious momentum behind the notion that he may even be fortunate enough to sneak into the NBA.
As history will now show, Mills was drafted with the 55th pick of the 2009 NBA draft by the Portland Trailblazers. He had made it to The Big Show, where few Australians before him had been lucky enough to venture.
Considering the fairly short list of Australians that were able to earn a spot in the best basketball league in the world, the ascension of Mills from the collegian ranks to professional basketball in America was rightfully considered a remarkable feat.
However, the expectations on Mills’ actual contributions on the court were not overly high. Mills was looked upon as merely a bench-warming reserve, who could occasionally be called upon to change the tempo of a game with his hustle and speed.
But now, after two Olympic campaigns and two seasons in the NBA – the second with the San Antonio Spurs – it’s quite evident that Mills’ potential is much greater than expected.
Whilst his amazing speed has been what was expected, his use of it has surprised many. He has the ability to not just race up and down the court, but also to get to positions on the floor that enable him to make plays, like penetrating into the paint.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s still truly a sight to behold in transition, regularly racing past opponents on his way to the ring, but his effective use of speed in the halfcourt has been better than anticipated.
A large reason for that has been the fact he has a textbook stroke on his jumpshot, making him a deadly perimeter shooter. It was first thought that his shot was just good enough to keep defences honest, but he’s actually a serious threat from outside.
Combined with his quickness, it makes him a very difficult assignment for defensive players.
As far an intangibles go, he has a level head, plays with passion, is willing to learn and likes the pressure of taking the big, important shot. This last point was best illustrated by his clutch, ice cold three pointer versus Russia that won the game on the buzzer for the Boomers.
Altogether, it’s a package that makes Mills a very interesting and appealing player. Suddenly, his ceiling has been raised from 12th man bench-warmer to potentially an ideal third guard in the rotation.
Like all players, Mills will need to keep working, and keep improving.
At the moment, he does have a tendency to force the odd questionable shot. Likewise, when he penetrates, he sometimes seems to be driving with the intent of only getting his own shot off. The good point guards penetrate in order to set up their teammates.
Mills is far from a ballhog, but his shot selection does need work.
Mills is also aggressive, and really tests the defence. It’s a great quality but he needs to understand that being aggressive doesn’t necessarily equal taking the shot. You can be aggressive whilst setting up your teammates.
Likewise, in transition, Mills needs to learn the importance of second phase execution: hitting trailers or rewarding big men that run the floor. Or failing those options, simply recognising the opportunity for fast break points has gone, and therefore pulling the ball out and running half court offense.
It’s these little intricacies of point guard play that Mills needs to become skilled at and then apply in-game.
However, that’s some fairly harsh nitpicking on my behalf. Mills is still just 23 years of age, he’s willing to learn, and his upside vastly outweighs any current minor negatives.
All things considered, the ceiling for Patty Mills is much higher than expected.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
JVGO, If you make the big show, yes. But how many Australian basketballers are likely to be earning, say, a solid $250k a year ? Each of 18 Australian Rules teams can use maybe fifteen six foot plus types with athleticism and 360 degree vision.
kennoth
Guest
...maybe if you are born black in the US of A and 7ft tall ! In OZ no way ask Hampson or White both were on basketball scholarships at Secondary College , Brisbane. Both now play AFL. Cant even hold a team together in SE QLD . Opportunity ..u gotta be dreaming !!
JVGO
Guest
He is earning more on the bench for SA than he would in AFL. He is on over a million apparently. If he established himself as a legitimate back up point guard in the NBA he would be worth 3-4 million. And he will get to captain his country. The opportunities in basketball are far greater than AFL.
Johnno
Guest
I remember watching a young pat Mills at age 19 for the boomers in 2007 vs NZ. He was awesome then and has only got better.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
It's not hating, mate. It's an observation of the requirements of point guard play; the position Mills plays. No player is above the need to improve - even LeBron James.
kennoth
Guest
.Apparently young Pat also played a bit of Aussie Rules in Canberra. Well somebody missed out. He would be on a level with Riolli by now. I suspect that his phone may be even running hot now given that he is still only 23. Certainly has all all the attributes !
Nick Jungfer
Roar Guru
Patty's copped a fair bit of hate lately due to being more of a scorer than a distributer. It's just the nature of his game and he could be a valuable guys coming of the bench in the NBA to provide a scoring punch.
A1
Guest
He didn't look out of place playing the Yanks. That must be a good sign.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The Spurs will need all hands on deck as the Lakers have confirmed Dwight Howard will be joining them. With the addition of Nash that is a great starting 5.
trevordelbridge
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately Mills has shown to be a bit of a "volume shooter" at the Olympics, which works if you're getting 30+ minutes a game, but not perhaps the 5-10 mins he'll get in the NBA. I'll certainly be pulling for him though. The Spurs are an organisation that seem to get all the upside out of players, especially international ones.
sledgeross
Guest
Oh yeah mate, I know what you meant and even agree, Im more talking about the general building up of Mills in the press.
JVGO
Guest
Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of great young kids without famous fathers too. But Exum in particular is elite. 6'4" point guard with that sort of atheticism and smarts. at 16 years old Wow.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Some good talent coming through the ranks then.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I think Gibson and Crawford were lucky to make the team!
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
The Spurs are the best run organisation in the NBA, and are one of the most well coached. You could do a lot worse in your career than stay within that type of environment. So you're right, it was a wise decision by Mills.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I'm not basing his ceiling on just his performance at the Olympics. He's shown plenty of potential in the NBA itself. And in terms of his athleticism, his speed is world class - he's fast, even in the NBA.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
To be fair, I never, ever said he would be a top 50 NBA player, mate. I think if he made the top 7 rotation on an NBA player, that would be a heck of an achievement.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I'd be shocked if Mills was ever a full-time starter in the NBA. He has plenty of upside, but I'm not sure it reaches that far.
sledgeross
Guest
Cmon, lets face it people, Mills is a good Aussie player but he doesnt make the top 50 guards in the NBA. I love him as a player, but lets not overestimate his skills. He shoots way to much for a poor percentage, and doesnt make his teammates better through his skills. Fact is we looked much better when the limited dellavedova or ingles were running the offence. At least Dellavedova knows his limitations.
Alfred Chan
Expert
I really liked what Mills did at the end of the NBA season. Uncontracted, he could have walked but he signed a 1 year deal with the Spurs for very little money. He'll sit behind Parker getting maybe five minutes a game but he's at arguably the best all-round franchise. He played well at the end of the season when Parker was rested for finals and I think Mills could have gotten much more game time elsewhere but good on him for staying at the Spurs on a small salary.