Veteran NBA coach’s touching tribute to Patty Mills

Patty Mills may be leaving the San Antonio Spurs after 10 years and with an NBA championship ring, but he’s certainly parting ways with the franchise on good terms.

Last week, Mills signed a two-year, $16 million deal with NBA heavyweights the Brooklyn Nets, which will see him play alongside the likes of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving.

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The 33-year-old led played superbly at the Tokyo Olympics, leading Australia to a bronze medal — the first of any colour the Boomers have won at the Olympics.

Now San Antonio have paid tribute to Mills’ decade-long stint in a farewell video featuring veteran Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who was at the helm of Team USA’s gold medal-winning campaign in Tokyo.

You have a home in San Antonio forever. To the ultimate Spur… Thank you, Bala. Thank you ? pic.twitter.com/MUvLlK5GtA

“We didn’t know what we were getting, really, when we got him,” Popovich said in the video posted to the Spurs’ social media channels.

“As a basketball player, he’s gone off the charts with development. But as a human being and as a member of our society and a leader on our team. He’s been fantastic.

Patty Mills and Gregg Popovich celebrate the San Antonio Spurs winning the 2014 NBA championship. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

“He embodies empathy, awareness, an ability to be actionable after he speaks about things. “He’s a very special human being, he’s doing things to try and make the world a better place.

“It’s been a thrill to watch him grow from just a guy who got signed and didn’t really have a role or wasn’t sure whether he was going to stay in the league or make it or anything like that.”

The Spurs recruited Mills after an underwhelming start to his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers, who took him with the 55th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Popovich played a huge role in mentoring Mills and developing him into an outstanding shooter and one of the best impact players in the league.

The highlight of Mills’ time at San Antonio came when he was part of the NBA championship-winning team in 2014, alongside fellow Australian Aron Baynes.

Mills and Popovich’s paths crossed several times at the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

There was a touching moment at the Tokyo Olympics last week when Popovich embraced Mills after he had 42 points in the bronze medal match to achieve a lifelong dream.

“We’ve talked before about what a wonderful human being he is,” Popovich told The New York Post last week.

“He’s a really unique player. And he has been special for the Spurs, but he’s moving on to Brooklyn now, and we’ll miss him a great deal.

“It’s a good move for him, playing for a team that’s going to be a contender.”

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