'My island home': Mills already at work in Hawaii

• ‍Patty Mills adds new role to his resume: GM of Hawaii men's basketball program‍
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• Eran Ganot cryptic on Patty Mills’ Hawai‘i absence

“Already at work, even before stepping off the plane.”

When Australian basketball fans spotted Patty Mills on Hawaii's North Shore this US summer, it wasn't simply a casual vacation; it was the beginning of a new chapter in his successful career.

On June 9, 2025, "FIBA Patty" Mills, a five-time Olympian, NBA champion, and Indigenous trailblazer, was appointed General Manager of the men's basketball team at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH).

He is yet to sign with an NBA franchise for the 2025-26 season.

From Canberra to Honolulu: A Pacific Journey

Mills' story is about trans-Pacific links and cultural resonance. He was born in Canberra and is of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal ethnicity. He has built a successful professional career in the NBA and around the world.

However, Hawaii became a home away from home. For almost a decade, he has spent his NBA off seasons on Oahu's North Shore, making the islands a part of his personality.

His appointment at UH is not a chance to encounter. Eran Ganot, UH's head coach, has known Mills since their time at Saint Mary's College in California — Mills as a player, Ganot as a coach. Their relationship is deep.

What the role entails — and what it might signify

Mills is taking on a newly minted GM post that goes far beyond operations. According to the UH statement, his tasks will include:

• Student-athlete mentoring and development.
• Recruitment, fundraising, and community involvement. Serving as a cultural bridge and role model for Indigenous communities as well as student-athletes of Pacific-Island heritage. Mills expressed a strong connection to the land, sea, and sky, citing his Torres Strait Islander heritage.

Implications for Australian basketball and Hawaii.

Mills' new role opens an exciting new chapter in Australian basketball. Here's why:

• His shift from player to front-office management strengthens Indigenous Australians' opportunities beyond the court in competitive sport.
• It strengthens Australian players' worldwide impact by allowing them to shape programs outside of Australia.
• Mills is creating something in Hawaiʻi, which might benefit both Pacific and Australian talent pools in the long run, despite speculation that he may return to the NBA.

For Hawaii:

• UH signs a marquee player with genuine island ties and global basketball credentials.
• The cultural match is strong, as his lived experience aligns with Hawaiʻi's ideals of community, tradition, and respect. Mills' claim to belong to the North Shore community carries more weight than a usual hire.
• On the recruiting front, Mills adds connections and visibility — his name alone has the potential to open doors globally and boost UH's profile.

The Road Ahead: Opportunities and Questions

Opportunities:

• Mills has the potential to reshape UH basketball by combining a performance culture with community-focused ideals.
• He might use his network (NBA, Australia, and Pacific) to introduce new talent and ideas to the program.
• His Indigenous origins and advocacy work have a significant societal impact: he mentors student-athletes from under-represented backgrounds, promotes cultural awareness, and serves as a role model.

Questions & Challenges:

How engaged will Mills be on-site at Hawaiʻi with his ongoing playing career (or quest for his next playing opportunity)? According to Ganot, Mills was "checking in from afar" for the 2025-26 campaign.

• How can he manage this executive role with his existing responsibilities and goals as a player?
• What measurable performance metrics will UH implement? Will the program expect instant recruitment success, or will this be a long-term culture build?

What does this mean for Australian fans?

Mills is an Australian sporting icon, having been an Olympian, NBA champion, and pioneer. He's now entering the next stage of his career, and there may be a paradigm here: how does a top-tier Australian hoops talent transition into leadership and service?

Mills' journey may offer up new opportunities for the Australian basketball ecosystem, particularly for Indigenous and Pacific Island athletes. It goes like this: "You can be great on the court, and then you can also lead it off, representing culture and community."

Final word

Patty Mills' appointment as GM at Hawaiʻi marks a significant transition. The decision combines his personal ties to the islands, his global basketball profile, and his commitment to cultural leadership.

For Australian basketball, it's a home away from home story with far-reaching, important, impacts. Hawaiʻi is optimistic about this hire. And for Mills, it could mean that his most influential work is only just beginning.

Expect to hear more from Honolulu, Oahu's North Shore, as well as the Australian flag-bearer who still holds both islands close to his heart.