During the 2013 off-season, Potato mills started taking his NBA career seriously.
Always regarded as a solid player, the Australian guard has hit the best form of his life while with the team. San Antonio SpursHe worked tirelessly on his ball handling. He got faster in order to become more of a threat defensively. He did this to complement the jump shot that got him into the league after leaving Saint Mary’s.
Mills’ reward for the summer of 2013? He took over as backup point guard behind Tony Parker and became a mainstay on the Spurs’ 2014 NBA championship-winning team. He scored 17 points as a substitute in the decisive Game 5 against LeBron JamesDwyane Wade and the Miami Heatand he ensured a long run in the NBA.
His last, and perhaps final, stop comes with the Utah JazzWHO agreed earlier this week to sign him to a one-year, $3.3 million contractIt is Mills’ experience, his know-how, his way of preparing, of keeping himself in top physical shape and his professionalism that Jazz is looking for.
Mills, who played the final weeks of the 2023-24 season with the Miami Heat, has a long-standing relationship with Utah head coach Will Hardy, who cut his teeth as an assistant with the Spurs just as Mills was trying to establish himself as an NBA player. Hardy never forgot how hard Mills worked to become a starting-level player in the league.
Mills (88) finished the 2023-24 season playing with the Miami Heat. (Jim Rassol/USA Today)
Mills may not be as advanced at this point in his career, and the Jazz know that, but Utah also has six players from the last two NBA drafts, and all of those players are impressionable. The team wants players like Georges Keyonte And Cody Williams And Taylor Hendricks to see how hard they have to work to make their mark in the league. The Jazz’s decision-makers know they can tell their young players that, but it’s a more effective message coming from a current player — and one who can lead by example in real time with Mills.
This season is shaping up to be a learning experience for Utah. And while it’s likely that several veterans will remain on the roster, the Jazz would like to prioritize youth this year. General culture is also a priority. Coming into this offseason, the Jazz lived by the mantra that “kids can’t raise themselves,” a sentiment the front office has expressed on multiple occasions.
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Utah has been interested in Mills for nearly a year and nearly landed him as the February trade deadline approached. Now the team has a chance with him, hoping to bring in someone who can provide meaningful leadership on and off the court.
Mills’ role in the game is still unknown. George will likely start the season as Utah’s starting point guard and should play plenty of minutes. Mills is still one of the best shooters in the league and can still make an impact on the move without the ball. These are the traits that made him a formidable NBA player and one of the best international players in the world of this era.
But at 36, Mills isn’t the same player he was when he started. The fact that he still provides value as a mentor speaks volumes. The Jazz hope his habits rub off on the players they want to see develop.
According to league sources, the Jazz aren’t expected to officially sign Mills for about a week, as the team is open to accepting salary in a trade for compensation. But if nothing comes to fruition, Mills will likely be the team’s last big contract of the offseason.
(Top photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
