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"I am in a very special moment in time" - Patty Mills reveals if he will ever play in the NBA again
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- "I am in a very special moment in time" - Patty Mills reveals if he will ever play in the NBA again
Stepping away from the NBA is no easy decision. For players who have competed for decades in the best basketball league in the world, playing in the Association becomes part of their whole identity.
Unfortunately, for most, the league tells them it's time to go before they are ready. In most instances, long-time veterans who are trying to squeeze every ounce of juice left in their playing careers eventually get passed over and forced out of the league. The NBA stops for no one, and it's rare that players recognize the writing is on the wall before the competition tells them.
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On rare occasions, however, a player comes along who actively decides to step away. A player who decides it's time to take a different direction and place something above basketball. Right now, that player is NBA champion Patty Mills , who revealed the birth of his first child was enough to put a pause on his career, and he's unsure if he'll ever return to the league.
"I am in the middle of preparing for whatever comes next. I'll never say never, but it has been a big part of my life the last 16 years. And I think we'll see when we get to cross that bridge, but the real answer is I'm not sure. I'm in a very special moment in time right now. It's the reason that I'm here. But we'll see. And people will hear this and think, 'What the hell is this guy talking about?' but it is the truth. I've actually just had our very first child a few weeks ago, and it has been the best decision that I've ever made to step away from basketball to be a present father here," Mills revealed .
"I've made a lot of decent decisions in my life, but this one by far has been the best. To be able to be present and start my little family that's the reason that I'm here and not playing in the NBA, but it was an important decision but it was actually an easy decision too. So this is me putting the breaks on a little bit while I enjoy this time that I know I'll never get back again, and we'll revisit what the NBA looks like," he went on to say.
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Mills presses pause
Making the decision to call it quits on an NBA career when it has been your life for nearly two decades is a brave choice. Of course, the decision comes easier given Mills is on the backend of his career with his best moments on the court in his rear view mirror, but there's no denying he still had some left in the tank.
The 37-year-old last suited up for the L.A. Clippers' last campaign, where he was used sparingly in the rotation during his 12 appearances before the Clippers were bounced from the playoffs in the first round. Before that, he called Utah home for just 17 games with the Jazz — both clear indications that his career was well and truly winding down.
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The end of the season coincided with a very special moment with his family, as his wife Alyssa was in the thick of her second trimester, with delivery rapidly peaking its head on the horizon. It was the perfect time for Mills to stop, take a breath, and reassess his situation. It was a brand new normal for the Australian basketball legend, who, for the first time in the offseason, wasn't ramping up his preparation ahead of a grueling 82-game schedule set to tip off in October. Instead, he began the nesting period by setting up shop, settling down and preparing to debut as a father for the first time.
Interestingly, it's not as though there was no interest knocking at his door either. Mills reportedly drew interest from multiple NBA teams, which were keen to add him to their rosters as a veteran presence and scoring punch off the bench if needed. He also sent the rumor mill spinning back home in Australia, as the Aussie National Basketball League (NBL) had high hopes he would sign with the league as a marquee player. Neither eventuated, but in his mind, it was nice that franchises still wanted his signature.
Dad duties
Mills is about to learn that becoming a father is unlike anything an NBA court can give you. No matter how many game-winners, three-point makes, roaring crowds or hostile environments he enters, nothing will prepare him for the demands and utter joy of being a dad provides.
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Patty comes from a strong Australian Aboriginal culture that places great importance on raising offspring with traditional values. First Nations people in Australia have strong ties to the land and to the elders who came before them, and they respect the foundations that previous generations built for them.
It's refreshing to see an NBA player be so open about why he decided to step away from the league. Some players have missed the birth of their children to compete in an everyday regular-season game; others have placed more importance on playoff wins and losses than on being fathers. But in reality, nothing should compare. Usually, they realize after the fact, when their children are older, and they wish they could have gotten those moments back.
Mills, however, understands that this time, especially the early years, is both sacred and fleeting. Children grow up in the blink of an eye, and if you don't dedicate the time to be present, you'll miss it just as quickly.
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Defining success differently
Mills is an international basketball legend, but that understanding may ultimately define his legacy more than any performance or individual accolade could. The NBA and the success he's had will always be a part of his story, but so too will the choice to step away when it mattered most.
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The league demands everything from its players. It's relentless, unforgiving and oftentimes, thankless. This time, Mills chose to reclaim his time and invest it where it can never be replaced.
Whether he returns to the NBA or not almost feels beside the point. For now, he's already won something far more meaningful — the chance to be present, grounded, and fully engaged in the most important role of his life.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
