Former Spurs Star Makes Major Career Announcement on Monday
Former Spurs Star Makes Major Career Announcement on Monday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
As the 2025-26 campaign approaches, the University of Hawaii men's basketball program is preparing for a pivotal transition.
Advertisement
Under the guidance of 10th-year head coach Eran Ganot, the Rainbow Warriors closed out last season with a 15-16 overall mark and a 7-13 record in Big West play, finishing ninth in the conference and missing the postseason tournament for the first time since 2009-10.
Despite a strong home record (13-7 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center), inconsistency on the road (2-9) and in conference tipped the balance toward a rebuilding year.
However, on Monday, Hawaii Athletics announced a landmark hire: NBA champion and FIBA luminary Patty Mills will join the Rainbow Warriors as the program's first-ever general manager.
Selected 55th overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, Mills signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 2012 and was a key contributor off the bench en route to their 2014 title.
Advertisement
Over the course of 16 seasons, Mills played for seven franchises, including the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Blazers and most notably the Spurs.
A fixture on the Australian Boomers, Mills has represented his country since 2007. As captain at Tokyo 2020, he scored an Olympic medal-game record 42 points to secure Australia's first-ever Olympic medal.
Australia guard Patty Mills (5).© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images
As a longtime Oahu resident during the NBA offseason, Mills brings both international basketball pedigree and deep local ties to the role.
Off the court, Mills has been a committed community figure on Oahu's North Shore for over a decade.
Advertisement
In 2022, he sponsored the inaugural Patty Mills North Shore Classic, a four-team tournament hosted in Laie, where Hawaii clinched the title.
"This role is not only a professional milestone, but a personal one as well," Mills said.
In remarks shared on Monday, Ganot noted, 'Having immersed himself in the island culture for the last decade, Patty shares those values and his love for the islands is abundantly clear."
Related: Ben Simmons Update Announced After Clippers Issue Big Demand
Related: Shaquille O'Neal Makes Strong Statement Amid Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
35 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bay Area sports calendar, June 11-12
WEDNESDAY BASEBALL NBA FINALS SOCCER TRACK AND FIELD WNBA 7p Los Angeles at Las Vegas CBSSN THURSDAY BASEBALL 10a Texas at Minnesota MLB Net 6:05p Minors: Ballers at Missoula (860) CRICKET FOOTBALL 5:30p CFL: British Columbia at Winnipeg CBSSN GOLF 3:30a U.S. Open USA Noon Meijer LPGA Classic GOLF NHL PLAYOFFS SOFTBALL
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jalen Brunson Makes Powerful Statement on Jayson Tatum's Injury
Jalen Brunson and his New York Knicks are one win away from returning to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since the 1999-2000 NBA season. The Knicks took a 3-1 lead after winning Game 4 121-113. They are now headed back to TD Garden to try to close out the series in front of the Boston Celtics fans and advance one step closer to the NBA Finals. Advertisement The Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum, whose 2024-25 season ended due to an Achilles injury. Boston is still a dangerous opponent, even without their biggest star on the court. Even so, the consensus among fans is that the series is pretty much over. Then again, you should never rule out a champion, especially during the playoffs. New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) argues with an official. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Brunson was one of the first players to show support for Tatum in the wake of his injury in Game 4 of the series. After the Achilles injury was confirmed and the player underwent surgery, many more reacted to the bad news. Ahead of tonight's game, a clip shared by "Knicks Videos" on X shows the former Dallas Mavericks' guard reflecting on the impact Tatum has made on his team and all the things he's yet to achieve in the association. Advertisement "I feel for him," Brunson said. "It's an unfortunate situation for a player like him. The league needs Jayson Tatum. What he's been able to do in his career has been remarkable. He still has a lot to do in his career, meaning he has a lot of time to make an impact and make a name for his legacy. What he's done is special." Tatum's second-round series finished with the forward averaging 25.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists in four games. The Celtics were upset in the first two games of the series, at home, and couldn't tie things up at Madison Square Garden. Even if the Celtics pull off the 3-1 comeback, the competition will get considerably harder in the next rounds. They can still try to make a run given all the quality players they have on the roster, but being without their No. 1 option will be tough for the C's. Related: Fans Get Emotional Over Jalen Brunson's Courtside Gesture Before Knicks-Celtics
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kevin Durant Issues Response to Fan's Celtics Post
Kevin Durant Issues Response to Fan's Celtics Post originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant hasn't gotten out of the second round of the playoffs since leaving the Golden State Warriors in 2019. The two-time NBA Finals MVP's best chance of making a deep run since then may have been with the Brooklyn Nets. Advertisement Durant signed with the Nets in June 2019 and sat out the next season due to his Achilles injury. The two-time NBA champion then helped Brooklyn beat the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs the year after that, but got eliminated by the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in seven games the next round. Superstar teammates James Harden and Kyrie Irving got injured during the series, but Durant almost willed the Nets to a win with his 48-point performance in Game 7. However, the future Hall of Famer's toe was on the three-point line when he made a game-tying shot to send the contest into overtime, and it would've been the game-winner had it been a three. Brooklyn eventually lost 115-111. The Nets then traded Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers in February 2022, and they got swept by the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs that year. A fan asked Durant if he was satisfied with his performance in that series on Tuesday, via social media. Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35).© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images "Of course not, ima perfecionist, how u think I got so great?? Did u use those 4 games as a declaration of my talent?" he said. Advertisement "Just checking, and no, I didn't, I just expected you and Kyrie to get a game. Appreciate the reply," the fan responded. "One game would've had u saying the same thing," Durant retorted. "You a rings culture guy, if it ain't bout the ring. It don't mean [expletive]. I get it, brother." Brooklyn traded Durant to the Suns in February 2023, and he led the latter team to a second-round exit vs. the eventual champion Denver Nuggets. Phoenix then got swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round the next year, and didn't make the playoffs this season. Durant is now entering the final year of his contract. Advertisement Related: Celtics' Brad Stevens Announces Kristaps Porzingis News on Monday Related: Jalen Brunson Makes Powerful Statement on Jayson Tatum's Injury This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
