How Patty Mills hopes to inspire the next generation

Patrick Mills has a blunt message for any sports star who finds life in the spotlight “tough.”

“It isn’t,” he said on 3AW Mornings.

The Australian basketball ace, back home after another NBA season with the San Antonio Spurs, doesn’t shy away from the role model tag.

In fact, he embraces it.

“I represent everyone in Australia,” Mills said.

“I’m doing it for people of all different backgrounds, but especially the indigenous community.

“Why? There’s not a lot of indigenous kids that make it over to America and succeed in a high-level sport overseas, let alone here in Australia.”

The three-time Olympian, who recently signed a $50 million (US) deal to stay with the Spurs, isn’t just using his sporting talents to inspire a generation.

He’s written a series of fictional books called Game Day, based largely on lived experiences he faced as a child.

He wants to show kids that anything’s possible.

“I’m nothing special,” Mills says.

It’s pretty clear he is.

By JAKE BOURKE

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview on 3AW