After 15 Years in the NBA, Patty Mills Stars in the EuroLeague

After 15 seasons and more than 1,000 games in the NBA, Patty Mills has concluded that the basketball he now plays in Europe bears almost no resemblance to the game he left behind. “Honestly, these two things cannot be compared at all,” Mills said of EuroLeague and NBA basketball. “It feels like two completely different sports.” The 38-year-old Australian guard, a 2014 NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, made the remarks in an interview with Mozzart Sport, as relayed by bebasket.fr, after beginning his first EuroLeague season with ASVEL Villeurbanne.

Mills’ move to Europe came in two steps during 2026. He first joined Tenerife in Spain in March, closing a chapter that included over a thousand NBA regular-season games, then spent the spring competing in Liga ACB and the Basketball Champions League, reaching the Final Four. That stint served as a bridge: in summer, Mills left the BCL for the EuroLeague to join ASVEL, the club of his former Spurs teammate Tony Parker, who serves as its president and head coach.

From Tenerife to Villeurbanne: A Two-Step Move to EuroLeague

According to bebasket.fr, the club was forced to revise its recruitment plans amid budget cuts during the summer, yet Mills chose to honor his commitment regardless. His bond with Parker, forged during their time together in San Antonio, likely tipped the balance. The 6-foot-2 (188 cm) point guard has since appeared in eight EuroLeague matches for the French side.

Why FIBA Basketball Prepared Him for EuroLeague

Mills credits his years with the Australian national team for smoothing the transition. Competing in FIBA tournaments, he said, prepared him for the officiating, the pressure and the rules he now encounters nightly in the EuroLeague. Even so, he insists the experience remains entirely new. “I’ve always had a strong desire to try myself in the EuroLeague, and everything that comes with it,” he said. “I’m really enjoying every moment of it.”

The adjustment has been fast enough that Mills now believes he can sustain this level for several more years, with a specific target in mind: staying sharp for Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Numbers That Define the Transition

In 21 minutes per game, Mills is averaging 15.1 points on 55.3% shooting.

FAQ

How long did Patty Mills play in the NBA?
Mills spent 15 seasons in the NBA, appearing in more than 1,000 regular-season games before leaving for Europe in March 2026.

Which teams did Patty Mills play for in Europe?
He first joined Tenerife in Spain in March 2026, playing in Liga ACB and the Basketball Champions League, then moved to ASVEL Villeurbanne in the EuroLeague during the summer.

What are Patty Mills’ EuroLeague stats with ASVEL?
Through eight EuroLeague games, Mills is averaging 15.1 points, 2.3 assists and 21 minutes per game while shooting 55.3% from the field and 47.5% from three-point range.

Why did Patty Mills join ASVEL?
ASVEL is run by Tony Parker, Mills’ former teammate with the San Antonio Spurs, and Mills maintained his commitment to the club even after it scaled back recruitment plans due to budget constraints.

What is Patty Mills’ goal with the Australian national team?
Mills aims to remain at a high level in the EuroLeague for several more years to stay sharp for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games with Australia.

Mills describes the EuroLeague as a wholly different sport from the NBA.