He’s one of the most beloved names in Australian basketball, and Friday Patty Mills added yet another impressive notch to his belt of career accomplishments, playing his 900th career NBA game. 

Mills – a 16-year NBA veteran – racked up game number 900 coming off the bench for the Utah Jazz, as they were defeated by the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Since his NBA debut in 2010, Mills has played across six franchises, including winning a championship with San Antonio in 2014, as he claimed and continues to extend the record for most games played in the league by an Australian. 

Patty Mills makes NBA history with 900th career game

When he took the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday, Patty Mills officially became the first Australian to play in NBA games. 

In what was a solid stint off the bench, Mills played 16 minutes for Utah, finishing with 5 points on 2/5 shooting, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 2 steals. 

🚫 swiper noooo swiping 🚫

unless it’s @patty_mills pic.twitter.com/XbTMHnO02h

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 8, 2024

Since signing with the Jazz during the off season, the Australian has established himself as a veteran presence for the young team, playing around 15 minutes a night providing spacing, as well as leadership and a steady hand. 

Drafted with the 55th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Mills’ ascension to an elder statesman has been remarkable, playing meaningful minutes deep into the playoffs for a number of franchises, as well as being the cornerstone of the Australian national basketball team. 

Mills sits nearly 200 games in front of the second-ranked player, Joe Ingles, Mills’ longtime Boomers running mate and NBA veteran in his own right who has played 706 games and counting. 

But if Mills is able to play another season and a half, he could become the first Aussie to surpass 1,000 career games. 

Patty Mills career NBA stats

• 8.8 points per game
• 1.6 rebounds per game
• 2.2 assists per game
• 0.6 steals per game
• 0.1 blocks per game
• 42.4 FG%
• 38.5 3PT%
• 85.6 FT%