Australia's Patty Mills shares emotional farewell after five Olympics
Aside from his successful career in the NBA, Patty Mills has been a key member of Australia's basketball program over the years. However, the longtime guard has decided to officially put an end to his international career.
On Tuesday morning, Mills and Austalia had a nail-biting quarterfinal matchup with Serbia. In the end, they ended up losing the overtime thriller to Nikola Jokic and company by a final score of 95-90.
Following this heartbreaking defeat, reporters caught up with Patty Mills to discuss his future. The Australian guard announced that the 2024 Olympics would be his final run with the national team.
Mills was seen postgame filled with emotion as this marks the end of a long journey for him. He admitted that his tears were both of joy and sadness for how things played out.
Mills did everything he could to try and help Australia advance, but it wasn't enough. He ended up leading his team in scoring 26 points on 11-for-21 shooting from the field. Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey also had a notable outing, notching 25 points in 33 minutes of action.
With his Olympic run now at its end, the 35-year-old finishes the tournament with averages of 16.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and one assist.
Breaking down Patty Mills' career with Australia men's national team
The Paris Games mark the end of what has been nearly a two-decade long for Patty Mills with Australia. He made his debut with the men's national team all the way back in 2007.
This summer marked the fifth time Mills has competed in the Olympics for his home country. His first appearance was in 2008 in Beijing. Mills' best Olympic run came in 2012 when he led the tournament in scoring at just over 21 points per game.
In terms of singular performances, Patty Mills had his top outing at the end of the 2020 Olympics. With a bronze medal on the line, the former NBA champion erupted for 42 points in a victory for Australia. This was a historic achievement, as it marked the first time the men's national team ever medaled in basketball.
Having played in five Olympics, Mills has managed to climb up some all-time rankings. During the Group Phase stage, he moved into the top five of scoring with over 550 in his career.
Upon retiring from international play, there is no telling what this decision means for Mills' NBA career. He appeared in just 32 games last season with the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat.