Patty Mills Departs La Laguna Tenerife, Calls Island Experience 'Best Year of Career'

Australian international basketball player Patty Mills has bid farewell to La Laguna Tenerife, concluding a stint of just over three months with the Spanish Liga Endesa team. Mills shared his departure message on Instagram, using the Amazigh phrase "Ar emir iyen" (until soon), reflecting his engagement with the ancestral culture of the Canary Islands.

Mills described his arrival in Tenerife as "accidental" but ultimately called it "the best year of my career." He noted a growing sense of belonging on the island, stating, "Little by little, the island felt less like a destination and more like a place to belong." He found a connection between his indigenous Australian heritage, specifically the Kokatha people, and the island's culture, saying, "Roots find each other across the ocean and time."

The player thanked the people of Tenerife for their warm reception and for sharing their history and culture with him and his family. During his time with the team, Mills played 17 games in the Liga Endesa, averaging 18.1 points and an index rating of 14.9. In six Champions League games, he averaged 13 points and an index rating of 9.

Mills brings a wealth of experience, having played 16 seasons in the NBA, where he won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs in the 2013-14 season.