Quotes from Patty Mills

The fact I've worked hard to play in the NBA and at the elite level, I'm just using it to promote my culture and heritage, represent my country and Canberra.

I understand my game better and what I do well, what I do is shoot the ball and finds ways to score and that was the feedback from the coaches to me - remember who you are and let the ball fly.

I play basketball, and I'm grateful for what the sport has provided for me and my family, but I'm even more appreciative for the voice and platform that has come along with it.

To continue my efforts as a leader for my people and to follow my family's legacy of providing legitimate opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through my sport of basketball is the true outcome of my personal success and accomplishments.

I ran track, and my pet event was the 400 meters, and I wanted to be like Cathy Freeman.

You have to be able to reach for the moon. You have to be able to have those sort of goals.

Australia is a great country. America is a great country. We all have issues and different aspects.

It's hard to guard when you have two point guards on the floor because you don't know who to pick up.

Being amongst the best players in the world, it's a really exciting opportunity I think I'll be able to thrive off.

I'm a culture guy: That's who I am and what makes me tick.

I feel like I've experienced a lot to learn my own game but also to be able to help others as well.

It goes without saying that there is a significant gap between the NBA and Basketball Australia in terms of catering to the players' needs so that we can perform at a high level night in, night out.

I feel a responsibility to not only live up to expectations, but the standard of which the likes of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili have set for us.

I had a roommate who refused to believe that there were black people from Australia and that I just had this accent. I got frustrated. I'm saying, 'mate, you've never heard of Aboriginals?' And he definitely never heard of the Torres Strait Islands.

I can't tell you how nice and genuine the people of San Antonio are... it reminds me a lot of Australia.

There's no running water in a remote Aboriginal community? I can do something about that, let's go do it. I've been brought up that way. So political activism, is it that? I don't know, because that's not what makes me go, 'yeah let's do this now.'

You have to be able to connect and re-connect to the passionate things that got you to a certain point in the first place. If you can connect and continue to hold onto that passion, that's the key thing that will help you get through tough times.

I've always been an ambassador for Australians, non-Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Australians... I let people know about who I am and that I'm not just a basketballer, I'm a person who comes from a very rich heritage.

I put it on myself to be a role model for all Australian kids, especially indigenous kids.

The way that I represent Australia and indigenous Australia affects other people as well from other cultures.

The AFL and NRL have done an awesome job every season in acknowledging Australia's culture and Indigenous culture.

For me, Cathy Freeman was definitely my idol and inspiration growing up. Everyone saw what she achieved on the track... but for me it was how she carried herself as an indigenous woman. For me, that's what caught my eye and why I wanted to be like her.

Coming off a pretty significant injury for me with my shooting shoulder, I learned a lot about my character.

I go about my craft as a professional and learn ways to get better, trying to carry myself in a way that I think can inspire others.