Patty Mills, who won an NBA title with Kawhi Leonard, reunite with him on Clippers

They were teammates for seven seasons and won an NBA championship together in 2014. Now Patty Mills and Kawhi Leonard is with the rocks.

Mills arrived here Saturday via trade From the Utah Jazz together with Fremad Drew Eubanks In return for Mo Bamba, PJ Tucker, a 2030 second round draft of elections and cash considerations.

As he did when he and Leonard were members of San Antonio Spurs’ championship team, Mills said he comes with a “purpose” of fulfilling the role of Clippers demanding and doing his part to help them to win their first title.

The 36-year-old guard feels lucky to play with Leonard in this quest.

“Yes, a couple of young bucks back during the day, won an NBA championship and obviously being able to witness its growth first -hand was really cool,” Mills said Tuesday at Clippers’ Shootaround in front of their match against Lakers at Intuit Dome .

“Yes, it was something you achieved in your life, that kind of binds you together, and you have it forever. So very grateful for my time spent with him. Close ties with him in San Antonio and obviously close since then. So in order to reunite, I assume, a decade later in a quest for the same kind of thing is very exciting. “

Read more: Clippers minus Norman Powell, close trip with loss to Toronto

Mills and Eubanks joined a Clippers team that entered Tuesday sixth at the competitive Western conference. It is far from the jazz team that has the second-worse record in the NBA and is in line for a high lottery.

With clippers who need a big man so Center Ivica Zubac can get some rest, hope 6-foot-10 EUBANKS to fill this void. He average 5.8 points and 4.5 rebounds with jazz this season.

“Athletic, go out and run the floor, be a lob -threat, protect the edge,” Eubanks said of what he expects his role to be. “Few guys like James (Harden) and Kawhi and Norm (Powell), these guys open for triangles or get started downhill. Finish around the edge, be a physical presence for them. I know that zu plays many minutes, so just fill in the gaps when he’s not out there. “

Mills has spent 16 years in the NBA, a 6-foot-2-point Guard that has carved a successful career against the odds. He average 4.4 points in just 17 games with jazz this season. But during his career, he is an average of 8.8 points and shot 38.5% from three-point reach.

“It’s back to the purpose again,” Mills said. “The purpose of playing basketball. The purpose of competing and competing to win and do your part. So this is certainly well -known territory on the search for something bigger. And it’s funny. It’s fun when you find a group and you’ll find guys who are willing to do their part to win a championship, it’s very cool. So hopefully I can bring this. “

Mills led his native Australia to his first Olympic men’s basketball medal by the 2020 games, and he would remind his new fanbase where he is from.

“This is the part I think I really enjoy because of maybe how I look or how I am perceived by people over here (in America) – I am originally Australian,” Mills said. “And it’s something that I put a lot of pride in … Being originally Australian is something that I’m really proud of, and I’m still strong in my identity, even having 16 years in the NBA.

“I think I am someone who is a minority on the other side of the world and other countries are able to look up to and hopefully be inspired by. So I enjoy that role. I think that is part of me and I hope to inspire all the people who hopefully make their dreams come true.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.