‘He’s in a position to have a huge influence’: Mills praised after Australia Day honour By Roy Ward
Source:smh.com.au
First he empowered his teammates, then he inspired the nation.
Patty Mills led the Australian Boomers to the nation’s first Olympic medal in men’s basketball at the Tokyo Games with a record 42-point performance against Slovenia in the bronze-medal game.
Mills, 33, who is among a handful of sporting stars recognised with Australia Day honours for their achievements on the world stage, was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and praised for his ability to unite. He was honoured for significant service to basketball, to charitable initiatives and to the Indigenous community.
“He’s done it in a way which has not been divisive,” basketball legend Andrew Gaze told The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.
Fellow Olympian Emma McKeon, who collected seven swimming medals in Tokyo including four golds, was also made a Member of the Order of Australia, along with Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo, who was recognised for significant service to motorsport, charitable initiatives and the community.
Wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott was honoured for his disability advocacy and his domination of the sport, having achieved an elusive “golden slam” for winning all the majors and Olympic gold in a calendar year.
Jessica Fox, the three-time Olympian in canoeing who finally broke through for gold in Tokyo, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to sport and advocating for gender equality. Matildas captain Sam Kerr, who has scored more goals for Australia than any other player, male or female, also received an OAM, along with former swimmer Linley Frame and former Australian cricketer and administrator Tony Dodemaide, who is now a selector for the national men’s team.
Last year was a special one for Mills. The unforgettable bronze medal in Tokyo had basketball lifers and casual fans sobbing with joy. He also launched the Indigenous Community Basketball League in eight locations around Australia and changed NBA sides, leaving his team of 10 years, the San Antonio Spurs, for the star-studded Brooklyn Nets.
Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said it was clear around the Olympic Village in Tokyo that Mills, a proud Kokatha, Naghiralgal, Dauareb-Meriam man, had universal respect.
“It’s just known around the sporting industry that this guy is a tremendous leader, that he cares,” Goorjian said.
“He’s about the right things. He’s a positive influence.
“Everybody can talk, the truth is in the doing, the people he was touching, the impact he was having on the Australian team and sport in general.
“Then with his Indigenous background and his ability and power that he has to bring all of this together. In a timeline now, where you’re dealing with a lot of social issues.
“There’s a lot of stuff spinning around the world and Australia needs a positive influence.
“Patty just is in a position where he can have a huge influence and we’re so fortunate that his influence is so powerful, not just on the Boomers but on the whole country.”
“You start to see, this thing goes deep,” he said.
“I’m deeply connected to both sides of my family in ways that I’m not sure I can get across, in ways that many people will never understand.”
Mills has previously voiced his desire for the date of Australia Day to change from January 26 to one all Australians could enjoy together.
“From slavery to mass murders, this day means extreme loss and trauma to all Indigenous Australians,” Mills wrote in an Instagram post on January 26, 2021.
He called on non-Indigenous Australians to demand a date change.
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“Although I may think I can change the world at times, the real opportunity today comes for non-Indigenous Australians to be brave enough to be educated about our country’s painful past and by taking part in truth-telling conversations,” Mills wrote.
“You have the privilege to be the real influences of this change.
The phrase he coined with his teammates of “gold vibes only” rang around the country as the Boomers broke through after five semi-final losses and four bronze-medal game losses dating back to the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
The vision of Mills pouring in baskets and then embracing long-time friend Joe Ingles when the medal was secured was watched around the world.
Mills along with veterans such as Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova and Aron Baynes put a heavy Australian influence on everything the team did, from the music during training and gym sessions to decorations in the locker room and a team culture night that honoured new players and educated them on past teams.
