Australian basketball legend Patty Mills is set to make a splash in European hoops, as La Laguna Tenerife announced the signing of the 37-year-old point guard for the rest of the 2025-26 season. The move, confirmed on March 8, 2026, marks Mills' first-ever club stint outside of the NBA, bringing a wealth of experience and star power to both the Spanish Liga ACB and the FIBA Basketball Champions League.
Mills' arrival comes at a pivotal moment for La Laguna Tenerife, also known as CB Canarias, who are currently sitting eighth in Spain's fiercely competitive Liga ACB with a 12-9 record. The Canary Islands-based club is looking to bolster its backcourt depth and inject leadership as they eye a playoff push, and Mills' signing could be just the spark they need.
Born in Canberra on August 11, 1988, Patty Mills stands at 1.83 meters and has carved out one of the most remarkable careers in Australian basketball history. His journey began with early stints at Marist College and Lake Ginninderra College before a move to the Australian Institute of Sport, where he quickly became a standout with the nation's youth teams. His talent took him to the United States, where he starred for the Saint Mary’s Gaels in the NCAA from 2007 to 2009.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected Mills in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft (55th overall), launching a professional journey that would span 16 NBA seasons and seven franchises. Mills' NBA resume is nothing short of impressive: 1,020 total games played, including 921 in the regular season and 99 in the playoffs. He wore the jerseys of the Portland Trail Blazers (2009–2011), San Antonio Spurs (2011–2021), Brooklyn Nets (2021–2023), Atlanta Hawks (2023–2024), Miami Heat (2023–2024), Utah Jazz (2024–2025), and Los Angeles Clippers (2024–2025).
But it was his decade-long tenure with the San Antonio Spurs that truly defined Mills' NBA legacy. Under the guidance of coach Gregg Popovich, Mills became a key piece of the Spurs' rotation, averaging 10.2 points per game and shooting a blistering 42 percent from beyond the arc during his time in Texas. His crowning achievement came in 2014, when he helped the Spurs capture the NBA Championship. According to NBA career statistics, Mills averaged 8.7 points, 2.2 assists, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.6 steals per game in the regular season, while posting 6.6 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 rebounds per game in the playoffs. His shooting splits—43% from the field, 38.5% from three-point range, and 86.7% from the free-throw line in the regular season—underscore his reputation as a reliable marksman and floor general.
Mills' globe-trotting basketball odyssey isn't limited to the NBA. During the 2011–12 NBA lockout, he suited up for Melbourne in Australia's NBL and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China, gaining valuable experience in different basketball cultures. However, his move to La Laguna Tenerife represents his first club contract in Europe, a milestone that adds a new chapter to his storied career.
Internationally, Mills is nothing short of a national icon in Australia. He has proudly represented the Boomers in five Olympic Games—Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2021, and Paris 2024. His leadership and scoring prowess were on full display during the Tokyo Olympics, where he not only served as Australia's flag bearer but also led the team to a historic bronze medal. Mills has also competed in three FIBA World Cups (Turkey 2010, China 2019, and the 2023 tournament co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia), cementing his status as one of the most decorated players in Australian basketball history. Across 64 official appearances in the Olympics, World Cups, and Oceania Championships, Mills has averaged 17.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.
Despite his legendary status, Mills' NBA role had diminished in recent years. He last played in the NBA during the 2024-25 season, splitting time between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers following a mid-season trade. He appeared in a total of 29 games last season, averaging 3.8 points in 11.1 minutes per game—a far cry from his peak years with the Spurs. In fact, Mills hadn't been a rotation regular since his 2021-22 campaign with the Brooklyn Nets, where he averaged over 14 minutes per game.
After remaining unsigned for the 2025-26 NBA season, Mills shifted gears and took on an off-court role, becoming the general manager of the University of Hawai’i men's basketball program in June 2025. He had been living in Hawai’i during NBA offseasons for the past decade, making the transition to college basketball management a natural fit. Yet, the competitive fire clearly still burns, as Mills was reported to be exploring options in Europe about a month before his signing with Tenerife, according to BasketNews.
La Laguna Tenerife’s acquisition of Mills is not just a headline-grabber; it’s a strategic move as the club juggles domestic and continental ambitions. Competing in both Spain’s Liga ACB—widely regarded as one of the top leagues outside the NBA—and the FIBA Basketball Champions League, the team is looking to solidify its playoff position and make a deep run in Europe. Mills' veteran savvy, championship pedigree, and international experience could provide the leadership boost needed in high-stakes matchups down the stretch.
The club’s official welcome was filled with excitement, as La Laguna Tenerife tweeted, "Hay nombres que no necesitan presentación… Welcome, @Patty_Mills!" The sentiment is shared by fans and teammates alike, who recognize the impact a player of Mills’ caliber can have both on and off the court. While the Australian guard may be entering the twilight of his playing career, his ability to mentor younger players, stretch defenses with his shooting, and steady the offense in crunch time remains invaluable.
For Mills, this new adventure in Spain represents an opportunity to write another chapter in a career already rich with accolades. Whether he’s knocking down threes, orchestrating the pick-and-roll, or simply leading by example, the basketball world will be watching to see how he adapts to the European game. With La Laguna Tenerife still in the hunt for Liga ACB playoff positioning and Champions League glory, the stage is set for some late-season drama.
As the Spanish basketball season heats up, all eyes will be on the Canary Islands to see what kind of impact Patty Mills can make. One thing’s for sure: the veteran guard’s arrival has injected a fresh dose of energy and optimism into the La Laguna Tenerife camp—and the story is far from over.