Spurs legend and long-time San Antonio fan favorite Patty Mills over the weekend became the NBA’s first Australian-born player to rack up 1,000 career games.
Mills’ historic feat came during the Utah Jazz’s 105-92 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday. Mills, now plays for the Jazz, had one assist and two rebounds in 19 minutes of play.
The 36-year-old point guard played nine seasons with the Spurs, winning his only career championship in 2014 before signing with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021. He remains a fan favorite in San Antonio and is often the subject of trade discussions among Spurs enthusiasts who want to bring him back to the Alamo City.
Indeed, plenty of SA fans commented on the NBA’s tweet about Mills’ milestone.
“I miss when he was on my Spurs,” X user @Gruthum wrote. “A true teammate.”
“His jersey belongs in the rafters,” chimed in Spurs fan @austinbritt.
To this day Mills’ impact on the culture of San Antonio can still be felt, namely at Stone Oak’s Aussie-themed Roo Pub, where folks can order a “Patti Millt.”
This weekend’s distinction isn’t not the first pro-sports record for Mills either.
In 2000, when he still wore a Spurs uniform, Mills became the NBA’s first Aussie player to make 1,000 career three-pointers.
He also holds the title as the first Australian-born player to score 34 points in a single game, a record also set while playing for the Silver and Black in 2012.
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This article appears in Dec 26, 2024 – Jan 1, 2025.
