Australian basketball icon Patty Mills is set to return to the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL next season, a move that’s believed to significantly boost the profile of the burgeoning domestic league, according to basketball legend Andrew Gaze.
At 37 years old, Mills finds himself without an NBA contract for the 2025-26 season and is currently showcasing his skills at La Laguna Tenerife in Spain.
The last time he played in the NBL was during the NBA lockout in 2011, when he suited up for the Melbourne Tigers, now known as Melbourne United.
Initial reports suggested that Mills and the Bullets had not reached an agreement, but Gaze shared with SEN that he anticipates a long-awaited return of the Olympic bronze medallist.
“A little birdie has relayed some exciting news — Patty Mills is currently playing in Spain due to not being signed in the NBA, and next year, he will be back in the NBL,” Gaze said. “The word is he’ll be donning Brisbane Bullets colours next season.”
Mills could be heading home. AAP
“Patty Mills returning to the NBL next season is heating up, with Brisbane Bullets being touted as the frontrunners.”
“I’m declaring it, sourced from a fairly credible insider.”
Mills, who became the first Australian to reach 1000 games in the NBA, was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers as the 55th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
After spending 16 years in the NBA across seven franchises, the Australian shooting guard is currently leading La Laguna Tenerife with an impressive average of 17.3 points per game after four outings.
Before being linked to the Bullets, there were discussions about Mills potentially joining a new expansion team in his hometown of Canberra, where he began his journey as a ball boy for the Canberra Cannons.
Despite their efforts, the Bullets have struggled to attract key free agents, having previously pursued players like Matthew Dellavedova and Will McDowell-White in recent seasons.
Compiled by SportArena.au.
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