Patty Mills adds new title: GM at Hawaii

• Australian point guard Patty Mills will continue his playing career while adding GM role
• Mills lives in Oahu on Hawaii's North Shore during the NBA off-season
• He has a long history with Hawaii head coach Eran Ganot dating back to his playing days at Saint Mary's

Five-time Olympian and NBA champion Patty Mills, currently playing with the LA Clippers, has been appointed as the General Manager of the University of Hawai'i men's basketball program.

In a similar announcement to Steph Curry's recent appointment as Assistant General Manager of his alma mater Davidson, Mills, will step into the newly created position that will focus on student-athlete mentorship, development, recruiting, fundraising, and community engagement while continuing his playing career.

A Deep-Rooted Island Connection

While Mills' basketball credentials speak volumes, it's his personal connection to Hawaii that makes this appointment particularly meaningful. Despite being born thousands of kilometres away in Canberra, Mills has built a life in the Hawaiian islands over the past decade, establishing his off-season home on Oahu's North Shore.

"This role is not only a professional milestone, but a personal one as well," Mills explained. "Despite being from different parts of the Pacific region, as someone from the Torres Strait Islands, I feel a strong cultural connection to Hawaii—our communities share deep respect and spiritual connection to the land, sea and sky and the strength of family and tradition."

This cultural affinity runs deeper than mere words. In 2019, Mills married his longtime partner Alyssa in Waimea Valley, cementing his personal ties to the islands. His understanding of Hawaiian values and community dynamics positions him uniquely to serve as a bridge between high-level professional basketball knowledge and the distinctive cultural landscape of the university program.

Rainbow Warriors head coach Eran Ganot, who has known Mills since their time together at Saint Mary's College, expressed his enthusiasm about the appointment: "This is a truly special day for our program. The landscape of college athletics has changed significantly and continues to evolve more toward a professional sports model. Our goal is to boldly navigate these times while staying consistent to the values of our program and the values of Hawaii."

A Relationship Built on Basketball and Values

The connection between Mills and Ganot dates back to Mills' collegiate career at Saint Mary's, where he was a two-time all-conference guard while Ganot was on the coaching staff. Interestingly, Mills' history with Hawai'i basketball began even earlier than his current residence might suggest. As a freshman at Saint Mary's in 2007, he earned Rainbow Classic MVP honours while leading his team to the tournament title in Honolulu.

This early experience created a foundation that would be built upon years later when Mills chose to make Hawaii his part-time home. In 2022, his commitment to local basketball was evident when he sponsored the North Shore Classic, a four-team tournament hosted at the Cannon Activities Center in Laie. Fittingly, the Rainbow Warriors claimed the tournament title, creating a full-circle moment that now leads to this formal partnership.

"My connection to UH began in 2007 but since becoming a member of the North Shore community, I've felt a genuine sense of belonging that reminds me so much of home," Mills reflected. "I'm truly grateful to be embraced by this community, and I'm committed to honouring that connection by serving our program and representing the values we hold dear."

While Mills' on-court achievements are exceptional, his impact extends far beyond basketball statistics. Throughout his career, he has established himself as one of basketball's most committed community advocates, particularly focused on empowering Indigenous communities in his native Australia.

His dedication to social impact and cultural pride has earned him recognition including the NBA Cares Community Assist Award and the Joe Dumars Sportsmanship Award. This commitment to community work aligns perfectly with the University of Hawai'i's values and provides a powerful example for student-athletes about using their platform for positive change.

"There are few people who exemplify what it means to be a caring professional more than Patty," Ganot noted. "We're fired up and feel fortunate that he's taken on this leadership role with us. We know his impact will be felt not only within our program but also across our awesome University and island community."

A Multifaceted Role with Immediate Impact

As General Manager, Mills will contribute across multiple areas of program development. His involvement in recruiting leverages his global basketball connections and reputation, potentially opening doors to international talent pipelines.

Perhaps most significantly, his mentorship of student-athletes provides a living example of basketball excellence combined with personal integrity. Few collegiate programs can offer guidance from someone with current NBA championship experience and Olympic leadership credentials.

"I can't wait to get to work alongside this incredible staff to give back to the game, grow the game and help build something special for Hawai'i basketball," Mills said, emphasising his commitment to this new chapter.

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