SAN ANTONIO – For years, Spurs guard Patty Mills has been a strong role model for the Indigenous people of Australia, and he was recently honored for his contributions to the Aboriginal culture and community.
Mills was awarded with the 2017 Person of the Year Award by the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC).
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Mills posted the news on his Instagram account. The post read in part:
“I am truly honored and humbled for being named the Person of the Year by the NAIDOC Committee. A very prestigious award with a powerful title. I am more grateful for being recognized for my efforts away from the basketball court, to improve the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture, its people and their achievements.”
The award comes during a busy summer for the Spurs fan favorite. Mills recently agreed to a 4-year deal to stay with the Spurs worth $50 million.
After the playoffs ended, Mills traveled to Australia to take part in the Mabo Day celebration, which commemorates Eddie Koiki Mabo.
Mabo fought for Indigenous land rights and helped overturn the law assumption of terra nullius, the idea that Australia belonged to no one when settlers from Europe arrived.
Mills joined thousands of Indigenous Australians to celebrate the 25th anniversary of a landmark ruling.
He continues to be an ambassador and is one of Australia’s highest profile Indigenous athletes.
Mills has also started a children’s book series titled “Game Day,’’ which aims to teach life lessons on the court and off it.
He is a strong voice for his people and wants to get the message to others.
"It’s who I am,” Mills told the NAIDOC. “It’s what I know, even more than basketball."
Au Esoau Koiki Ata and Happy 25th Anniversary. pic.twitter.com/HdnSP3DvUf
— Patrick Mills (@Patty_Mills) June 3, 2017
Big esor to my Dad for accepting my very special award in Cairns over the weekend! #NaidocWeek2017 pic.twitter.com/WrgMcWMLn9
— Patrick Mills (@Patty_Mills) July 6, 2017
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