Patty Mills started playing basketball because his parents, Benny and Yvonne Mills, founded “The Shadows” basketball club in Canberra to provide a safe, community-driven space for Indigenous Australian children.
Immersed in this environment from birth, Mills began practicing on a makeshift home hoop at age two and formally joined the club at age four.
His early start was deeply motivated by a desire to stay connected to his cultural roots and his mother’s history as a survivor of the Stolen Generations, transforming the sport into a vehicle for cultural responsibility and community protection.
The Roots of a Champion: The Shadows Basketball Club
The origins of this athletic journey are found in the early 1980s, when Benny Mills, a Torres Strait Islander, and Yvonne Mills, an Aboriginal Australian, met while working for the Australian government.
Their shared commitment to community service led to the creation of The Shadows Basketball Club, a sanctuary for multicultural and First Nations youth on the south side of Canberra.
This club served as the foundational landscape where a future champion would hone his skills and understand the power of representation.
The Vision of Benny and Yvonne Mills
Benny and Yvonne built The Shadows not merely as a sports organization but as a safe haven where children could find athletic pathways in a familiar and supportive environment.
For Patty, the club was an extension of his own home, and he was effectively raised on the basketball court.
This total immersion meant that by the time he was playing organized games at four years old, he was already developing the instincts that would later define his professional career.
A Legacy of Junior Dominance
The environment fostered by The Shadows was incredibly effective for player development. Propelled by the early talent of Patty and his peers, his junior teams achieved a staggering level of success, winning nearly every single season championship for a decade between the ages of 7 and 17.
This consistent winning culture, rooted in community support, provided the confidence necessary for Mills to eventually pursue the sport at a global level.
How Heritage and Family Shaped Patty Mills’ Career
Beyond the physical fundamentals of the game, the intersection of his family’s history and Indigenous identity dictated why he chose to stay in the sport.
For Mills, basketball was never just about scoring points; it was a tool used by his parents to protect him from local racism and maintain a strong connection to his Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander roots.
This deeper purpose gave his early career a sense of urgency and cultural weight.
The Influence of the Stolen Generations
A significant driving force behind his dedication was his mother Yvonne’s history as a survivor of the Stolen Generations. Hearing the traumatic stories of her childhood at a young age profoundly shaped Patty’s worldview and his understanding of social justice.
He viewed his success on the court as a cultural responsibility, believing that his career could help pave a safe and prosperous pathway for future generations of First Nations athletes.
An Elite Athletic Bloodline
Basketball excellence was already a hallmark of his extended family, providing Patty with legendary figures to emulate.
His uncle, Danny Morseu, was a legendary Indigenous player and only the second Indigenous Australian to represent the country in basketball at the Olympic Games.
Additionally, his cousin Nathan Jawai also reached the NBA, while other cousins found success in professional rugby. Being the great-nephew of the famous land-rights activist Eddie Mabo further reinforced the idea that his platform should be used for the greater good.
Why Did Patty Mills Choose Basketball Over AFL?
It is a little-known fact that the basketball icon was also a prodigious talent in Australian Rules Football (AFL). Throughout his youth, Mills was a highly gifted multi-sport athlete who excelled in track, cross-country, rugby, and AFL.
His dominance on the football field was so significant that he was actively scouted and pursued by professional AFL clubs, most notably the Sydney Swans.
The Dual-Sport Challenge
For much of his teenage years, Mills split his time and energy between the two sports, excelling in both simultaneously. This versatility spoke to his natural athleticism, but as he reached his mid-teens, the pressure to specialize became unavoidable.
The decision was not easy, given the prestige of the AFL clubs interested in his services, but his deep-seated connection to the basketball community eventually tilted the scales.
The Scholarship that Changed Everything
The defining turning point in this athletic crossroads occurred in 2005 when Mills was 16 years old. He was offered a prestigious scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), a milestone that required a 100% commitment to basketball.
Recognizing the global opportunities that basketball offered compared to the domestically focused AFL, he officially gave up football.
This decision was vindicated only a year later when, at age 18, he became the youngest player ever called up to the senior Australian national team, the Boomers.
Professional Exposure and the Path to the NBA
Growing up in Canberra provided Mills with a front-row seat to the professional game long before he ever signed a contract.
His parents’ involvement in the local basketball scene ensured that he was constantly surrounded by high-level competition and professional mentors who could guide his development.
Life as an NBL Ball Boy
During his youth, Mills served as a ball boy for the Canberra Cannons in the National Basketball League (NBL). This role allowed him to observe professional players up close and understand the daily discipline required to succeed at the highest level.
It was during this time that he built a relationship with Cannons player David Patrick, a connection that would prove vital for his future.
The Saint Mary’s Connection
The bond formed between the Mills family and David Patrick became the bridge that took Patty from Australia to the United States.
Patrick eventually became an assistant coach at Saint Mary’s College of California and played a key role in recruiting Mills to the American collegiate system. This move to Saint Mary’s served as the essential springboard that eventually launched his historic career in the NBA.
Carrying the Torch: The Impact of Patty Mills Today
The reasons Patty Mills started playing basketball—community, heritage, and protection—are the same reasons he continues to give back to the sport today.
After his parents retired and The Shadows Basketball Club ceased its operations, Mills felt a deep distress that local Indigenous youth no longer had the same supportive sports pathway that had raised him.
Scaling the Vision with IBA
In 2020, during the NBA offseason, Mills took action to revive his parents’ original vision on a national scale by launching Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA).
This initiative was designed to ensure that the “Shadows” legacy would continue to thrive, providing young athletes with the same opportunities Patty had as a child.
The program focuses on holistic development, integrating basketball with cultural heritage, health, and wellbeing.
The Indigenous Community Basketball League
Under the umbrella of the IBA, Mills established the Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL).
This competition specifically targets under-14 youth and has expanded to reach hundreds of children across regional and remote areas of Australia, including places as far-reaching as Thursday Island.
By creating these leagues, Mills has fulfilled his early belief that basketball is a cultural responsibility, ensuring that the pathway to greatness remains open for all First Nations children.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Patty Mills when he started playing?
He began practicing on a makeshift hoop at home when he was two years old and joined his parents’ club, The Shadows, for organized games at age four.
Did Patty Mills play other sports?
Yes, he was a talented multi-sport athlete who excelled in rugby, track, and Australian Rules Football (AFL). He was even scouted by the Sydney Swans before choosing to focus on basketball at age 16.
Who were Patty Mills’ biggest inspirations?
His parents were his primary influence, having founded his first basketball club. Professionally, he looked up to his uncle, Danny Morseu, an Olympian and legendary Indigenous basketball player.
What is the ICBL?
The Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL) is an under-14 competition founded by Patty Mills through Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA) to provide cultural and athletic pathways for youth.
The Enduring Legacy of a Global Icon
From the courts of Canberra to the heights of the NBA, the journey of Patty Mills is a testament to the power of community and cultural identity.
By reaching the historic milestone of playing over 1,000 regular-season NBA games and winning a championship in 2014, he has proven that a foundation built on heritage and family support can lead to global stardom.
His story continues through the lives of every young athlete currently playing in the IBA, carrying forward the spirit of “The Shadows” for generations to come.
