6
Jul
France
Patty Mills snubs NBL return for Tony Parker reunion
Australian Boomers legend Patty Mills reacts during La Laguna Tenerife's Liga Endesa semi-final against FC Barcelona at Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona, Spain, on June 9, 2026. Mills is reportedly set to reunite with former San Antonio Spurs teammate Tony Parker at French club ASVEL Villeurbanne after ending speculation of an NBL return. Photo: Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images
Highlights
Patty Mills has reportedly rejected an NBL return to reunite with Tony Parker at ASVEL Villeurbanne
- What's next for 'FIBA' Patty after Spain action ends
- Was Patty Mills’ 42 the best Boomers game ever?
- Patty's magical Gregg Popovich moment
Australian legend Patty Mills has turned his back on a return to the NBL in 2026-27, reportedly signing with former San Antonio Spurs’ teammate Tony Parker’s ASVEL Villeurbanne in France.
Scoring point guard Mills, 37, led Tenerife to the semi-finals of the Spanish league last month and speculation was mounting he could return to Australia with the Perth Wildcats and Brisbane Bullets in hot pursuit.
But it now appears the NBA championship teammates are reuniting at Villeurbanne.
The Australian Boomers legend was knocked out of the Liga Endesa playoffs on Saturday (AEST) after Barcelona completed a 3-0 semi-final sweep of Tenerife, ending Mills' first season in Spain.
He averaged 15.7 points and three assists across the series, but it was his stunning Game 2 performance that reminded everyone he still has plenty to offer.
After scoring nine points and dishing five assists in Tenerife's 100-67 Game 1 loss, Mills erupted for 36 points in Game 2.
He shot 8-of-15 from beyond the arc, 4-of-7 from two-point range and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line in 35 minutes, adding three rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.
It was vintage Mills.
The performance wasn't enough to stop Barcelona from escaping with a 97-89 win and moving to the brink of the finals.
Two days later, Barcelona completed the sweep with an 85-76 victory. Mills was held to two points and two assists in 21 minutes as former NBA forward Will Clyburn scored 19 points and seven rebounds for the winners.
Across the three games, Mills finished with 47 points, nine assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block.
ASVEL Villeurbanne finished 4th in the French Betclic Élite regular season with a 20-10 record to reach the Championship Playoffs. In the continental EuroLeague Basketball Standings, they finished with a disappointing 8-30 record.
