Patty Mills signs with Utah Jazz for 16th season in the NBA

A standout Olympic performance from Patty Mills’ has seemingly landed the 36-year-old Aussie another lifeline to stay in the NBA.

Patty Mills has been given an NBA lifeline. Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP

Patty Mills will play a 16th season in the NBA after the Utah Jazz handed the Aussie superstar a career lifeline.

Mills starred for the Boomers at the Olympics, with FIBA Patty almost dragging Australia over the line in what was ultimately a 95-90 overtime loss to Nikola Jokic’s Serbia in the quarterfinals.

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The 36-year-old, who is expected to retire from international basketball, gave Australia one last masterpiece, hitting 26 points, including 20 in the first half and a clutch fadeaway jumper over Jokic with 1.4 seconds left on the clock to send the game to overtime.

It wasn’t enough as the Boomers gave up a 24-point lead and were bundled out of the Olympics, unable to defend their bronze from Tokyo.

FIBA Patty was on show in Paris. Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP

But the starring role has come at the perfect time for Mills, who was stuck in NBA limbo after a tumultuous 2023-24 season.

Mills was traded after two seasons at the Brooklyn Nets, having been traded to Houston, Oklahoma City and ultimately landing at the Atlanta Hawks.

Mills was axed by Atlanta a day before the NBA’s March 1 buyout deadline, having played just 19 of the Hawks’ first 58 games with an average of 10 minutes, 2.7 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists.

It was believed it may have been the end of Mills’ NBA career with calls for him to get game time in Europe, but the Aussie finished his season in Miami, improving to 5.8 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in an average of 16.4 minutes across 13 games.

But his short-term deal ended after the playoffs, again leaving Mills without a home.

Until now.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Mills had signed a $US3.3m ($A5m), one-year fully guaranteed deal for the 2024/25 season.

Mills, who won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, a team he spent a decade with, will reunite with former Spurs assistant and current Jazz coach Will Hardy.

Patty Mills will play a 16th season in the NBA. Photo: Adam Head

It’s not expected that Mills will be a star for the Jazz as the side rebuilds after with young guards Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier expected to be taken under the Aussies’ wing.

Former Boomers and NBA star Ryan Broekhoff saidMills’ experience would be invaluable.

“Patty has done enough in the NBA for teams to know who he is,” Broekhoff said via the Herald Sun.

“He’s a solid vet for a young team.

“I wouldn’t expect a heap of playing time for him there as (Jordan) Clarkson fills his role as the scoring punch off the bench.”

It’ll be Mills’ sixth NBA team after stints at the Portland Trailblazers, Spurs, Nets, Hawks and Heat.

Mills’ was the Boomers’ second best scorer in Paris, averaging 16.5 points, more than two three points and a shooting percentage of over 40 per cent from beyond the arc.