Basketball legend Patty Mills secured another career milestone as he became the first Australian to play 1000 NBA games on Sunday.
In his historic 1000th game, Mills recorded two rebounds and an assist, helping the Utah Jazz secure a 105-92 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Having joined the league with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2009, Mills' milestone was a long-awaited achievement.ย
The point guard had been stuck on 999 NBA appearances since his last game in early November.
As the 36-year-old's illustrious career across nine franchises nears its twilight, Mills leaves behind a lasting legacy.ย
He is the third Indigenous Australian to represent the country in international basketball and the first to win an Olympic medal, leading the Boomers to a bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Following the Boomers' failure to medal at the 2024 Olympics, Mills reflected on his career after what was likely his last Olympic appearance.
โThrough thick and thin, the ups and downs, the happy tears, the sad tears, it's been an incredible journey to be able to share with those guys,โ he said in his final post-game interview.
โHopefully the legacy we will leave at some point will be able to help the younger guys for years to come.โ
Nearly halfway through the regular NBA season, Mills' team, the Utah Jazz, holds a 9-25 record, sitting second-to-last on the Western Conference leaderboard.
