Patty Mills will channel his heroics in the green and gold during his 10th NBA season with San Antonio before heading straight to Tokyo as the Boomers chase a maiden Olympic medal.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
An offensive spark off the bench in the NBA - he enjoyed a career-best 11.6 points per game last season - the shooting guard goes to another level when he puts on the Boomers top.
Mills led all scorers with 21.2 points per game at London's 2012 Olympics and matched that output in Rio four years later.
Last year he poured in 22.8 points per game at China's World Cup, at one stage looming as the tournament MVP before Australia were again cruelly denied a medal with gutting semi-final and bronze-medal game losses.
Speaking to media at Spurs training camp on Thursday (AEDT), Mills said it was about time the NBA got to know the Boomers version of the 32-year-old after the Spurs missed the playoffs for the first time in 22 seasons.
"Whenever I get the chance to go back and play for Australia and put on the green and gold, and be that person, it's who I am," he said.
"The role that I've had here in San Antonio has been different from that for the last nine seasons, so going into my 10th season it's really on me to be able to fuse them both together and really unleash who I really am.
"My mindset and where I'm at right now is being able to get to the point of who I am on the national team."
He then tweeted he'd head "straight on to Tokyo for the Olympics" in an encouraging sign for coach Brian Goorjian given the logistical barriers of an NBA season set to finish just days before the COVID-19-delayed Games.
The Boomers will head to Tokyo without three-time Olympian Andrew Bogut, who announced his retirement on Tuesday.
His experience and unique skill set will be missed by Goorjian but the returning coach should have the services of fellow big man Aron Baynes, who has signalled his intention to back up after signing with the Toronto Raptors.
Whether NBA All-Star Ben Simmons is available - he was initially keen to play in 2020 before COVID-19 delayed the Games - is unknown, while pick No.18 in last month's draft Josh Green is another on Goorjian's radar.
Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova, Thon Maker (training contract), Dante Exum, Ryan Broekhoff and Will Magnay are others in the NBA that would have to contend with the short turnaround to feature at the Games.
Australian Associated Press
