Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Patty Mills has enjoyed a long and respected career thanks to his leadership, professionalism, and ability to provide instant offense from the backcourt. Known for his shooting, energy, and commitment to team basketball, he has been a valued contributor both in the NBA and on the international stage.
Here’s a detailed profile of Patty Mills:
Player Profile
- Full Name: Patrick Sammy Mills
- Nickname: FIBA Patty
- Nationality: Australian
- Age: Born August 11, 1988
- Hometown: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
- Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
- Wingspan: 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
- Shoe Size: 12 (US)
- Jersey Number: #8, #5, #2 (varied throughout his career)
- Position: Point guard / Shooting guard
- High School and College:
- High School:
- Marist College Canberra (Canberra, Australia)
- College:
- Saint Mary’s College of California (2007–2009)
- High School:
- NBA Draft:
- Drafted: 55th overall pick in the 2nd round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers
- Teams Played For:
- Portland Trail Blazers (2009–2011)
- San Antonio Spurs (2012–2021)
- Brooklyn Nets (2021–2023)
- Atlanta Hawks (2023–2024)
- Miami Heat (2023–2024)
- Utah Jazz (2024–2025)
- Los Angeles Clippers (2024–2025)
- Championship Rings:
- NBA: 1 (2014 with the San Antonio Spurs)
- Kids: None
- Siblings: He has an older sister named Melinda Mills.
Player Archetype / Play Style
Patty Mills’ player archetype is that of a veteran spark-plug combo guard: a quick, high-energy backcourt scorer whose greatest value comes from pace, shooting, and instant offensive lift. Defensively, he has typically filled a competitive point-of-attack role, using effort, toughness, and anticipation to pressure opposing guards, even though his size naturally limits his versatility against bigger matchups. Offensively, his role is built around floor spacing, relocation shooting, secondary ball-handling, and bench scoring, with the ability to push tempo and heat up fast from deep. Physically, Mills is a smaller guard with a compact build, good speed, and lively movement, traits that have long helped him dart into space and play with urgency. Altogether, his play style is defined by pull-up confidence, off-ball activity, veteran poise, and the kind of microwave scoring that can change the rhythm of a game in a hurry. (NBA)
Scouting Report
Patty Mills has always been far more dangerous without the ball than many people realise, because defenders rarely get a chance to relax once he gives it up. The first thing you notice is the constant movement: sprinting out of the corner after making an entry pass, circling into DHOs, relocating behind a screen, then popping into space before the defence can reset. His shooting isn’t just about mechanics; it’s about timing and the pace he carries into the catch, which forces defenders to chase him through multiple actions and often creates driving lanes for teammates as much as it creates jumpers for himself. When he does handle the ball, he likes to attack defenders who are already leaning, using quick changes of direction and compact pull-up jumpers rather than trying to overpower anyone at the rim. That’s where his passing becomes effective too. Instead of threading spectacular deliveries, he’ll draw the help defender one extra step before slipping a bounce pass to the roller or kicking the ball out early enough for the next advantage to develop. Defensively, he’ll compete over the top of screens and pressure ball handlers well beyond the three-point line, but size remains the obvious compromise. Bigger guards can shoot over him or force switches into uncomfortable post situations, and there are possessions where his aggression leaves him needing backside support if the initial containment breaks down. The interesting thing is that his offensive value actually increases in systems built on continuous motion because he doesn’t need to dominate possessions to bend a defence; his willingness to fly off pin-downs and instantly fire keeps weak-side defenders occupied long after the ball has moved elsewhere. To me, that’s his ideal role: an off-ball floor spacer who can seamlessly shift into secondary pick-and-rolls when the first action stalls, maintaining tempo without disrupting offensive rhythm. There are similarities to Eddie House in the way he weaponises movement shooting, while parts of his game also echo J.J. Barea, particularly his ability to inject pace into stagnant possessions and punish defenders who underestimate how quickly he can turn a small opening into a scoring chance.
Fun Facts
- He has been a prominent figure on the Australian national team (the Boomers), helping them secure their first-ever Olympic medal (bronze) in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
- He played for the Bankstown Bruins in Condell Park (Bankstown), NSW, Australia.
Player Insights
Patty Mills is the best player Australia has had on an Olympic team. Luka Doncic said that the NBA is easier to play in than Europe because of the difference in NBA and FIBA rules. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Patty Mills was getting old but was arguably still Australia’s strongest player. The only player I thought had more value at times was Josh Giddey. But Giddey played so well at times that I knew he was going to break out in the NBA during the 2024-25 season. Dyson Daniels, the player who arguably had the best 2024-25 NBA season out of any Australian, wasn’t nearly as valuable to the Boomers as Patty Mills. Perhaps due to his size, NBA coaches didn’t want to utilize Mills as much as he could have been. It probably started during his time in San Antonio. Coach Pop didn’t want to use him much so no one else did either. Regardless, Mills was a pioneer for Australians in the NBA and he had a good NBA career that lasted a long time. 2/25/2025
Sources:
NBA.com — Patty Mills | Guard | LA Clippers | NBA.com
Brooklyn Nets — Brooklyn Nets Re-sign Patty Mills
NBA.com — Morning Tip Q&A: Patty Mills