Why Patty Mills could soon thrill in NBL

• NBA star Patty Mills is off-contract with the Los Angeles Clippers
• Mills has been with five teams since 2023, all primarily in deep bench roles
• Larry Kestelman believes there is 'want and intent' from Mills to return to the NBL

NBL Executive Director Larry Kestelman believes Patty Mills has a “want and intent” to finish his stellar career in Australia and he’d be “surprised” if it didn’t happen, reports Code Sports' Matt Logue.

Mills’ future is up the air, with the veteran guard an unrestricted free agent heading into the NBA off-season.

It means the Boomers great – who has bounced between five clubs since 2023 in predominantly bench roles – is free to negotiate and sign with any team.

Mills has been linked to an NBL homecoming for some time, but it has grown momentum in recent months due to his off-contract status.

Last season’s grand finalists Melbourne United is in need of a star guard after losing Matthew Dellavedova to the Sydney Kings and young gun Flynn Cameron to Adelaide.

Read the full story at Code Sports Basketball here.

NBL championship-winner Ian Clark is also no certainty to return to United, opening the door for Mills.

The Perth Wildcats are also in the market for a marquee guard after losing five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton.

Kestelman doesn’t know when Mills could land in the NBL, but said he expects the Boomers’ five-time Olympian to one day feature in the Australian league.

“I would be surprised if at some stage that Patty didn’t come back here to play,” Kestelman said about Mills, who averaged 3.1 points and 5.1 minutes in his 12 games for the Los Angeles Clippers this NBA season.

“I know that is his want and intent, but when that is needs to be on his terms.

“I can’t speak for if it is this year or next year, but my hope is that he comes back to play in front of his family and fans.”

Kestelman says the NBL’s successful track record in attracting Australian NBA stars to the league could help to lure Mills home.

“Well, we’ve proven before through people like Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova coming here to play,” he said.

“It was always part of the vision to have a bit of a circular economy where we can create a product here where some of the youngest stars can come to the NBL, develop their skills and then go to the NBA.

“And vice a versa, especially for Australians, where there is a league that our players can be proud to come and play in for the last few years of their career.”