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 earlier 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 onto 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.
Meanwhile, fellow Australian Dyson Daniels scored 23 points on Sunday (AEDT) but his Hawks suffered an eighth-straight defeat.
Pascal Siakam made a key 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists to lift Indiana to a 132-127 win over Atlanta in Indianapolis.
Daniels also had four rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block.
Nicola Jokic produced his 22nd triple-double of the season to help Denver (30-19) beat Charlotte 107-104, helping himself to 28 points, 17 assists and 13 rebounds. Australian starter Josh Green had six points and five assists for the Hornets (12-34).
And Australian Ben Simmons played 24 minutes for five rebounds, four assists and two points as his Brooklyn Nets (16-33) upset the high-flying Houston Rockets 110-98.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/mills-nba-journey-takes-unexpected-turn-away-from-utah-c-17587789
