Veteran NBA guard Patty Mills has taken on a new off-court role, as the University of Hawai’i announced that Mills has been named the general manager of its men’s basketball program.
The position is a newly created role for the Rainbow Warriors and marks a significant addition to their staff. According to the university’s press release, Mills will have a wide-ranging set of responsibilities.
His work will include mentoring and supporting student-athletes, assisting in recruiting efforts, boosting fundraising initiatives, and enhancing the program’s engagement with the local community.
Although Mills is originally from Australia and played his college basketball at Saint Mary’s (2007–2009), he has longstanding ties to Hawai’i.
He has lived on the islands during the NBA offseason for over a decade and was notably the sponsor of the 2022 North Shore Classic, a local basketball tournament hosted in the area, which was won by the University of Hawai’i.
Expressing both pride and a personal connection to the new opportunity, Mills stated:
“I’m deeply honored to join the University of Hawai’i basketball program as the new general manager. This role is not only a professional milestone, but a personal one as well. Despite being from different parts of the Pacific region, as someone from the Torres Strait Islands, I feel a strong cultural connection to Hawai’i – our communities share deep respect and spiritual connection to the land, sea and sky and the strength of family and tradition.”
Despite this appointment, Mills is not officially retiring from professional basketball.
The university’s announcement still refers to him as a “current member” of the Los Angeles Clippers, and he joins a growing list of active NBA players who have taken on college-related roles.
Other recent examples include Stephen Curry serving as assistant general manager at Davidson, Trae Young at Oklahoma, and Terance Mann at Florida State, all in similar positions.
Whether Mills’ responsibilities at Hawai’i will be more involved than those of the assistant GMs at other colleges remains to be seen.
Still, with no formal retirement announcement and a history of playing reduced minutes in recent years, Mills could feasibly continue his playing career if the right opportunity arises.
In the 2023–24 season, the 16-year NBA veteran appeared in 29 games split between the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 3.8 points and 0.9 assists in just over 11 minutes per game.
He also spent time with Atlanta and Miami earlier in the season.
Mills, who turns 37 in August, will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, leaving the door open for a possible return to the NBA or a deeper dive into his new collegiate role.
Patty Mills Named University Of Hawai'i GM https://t.co/O3wCXjk1O6 pic.twitter.com/yhjBncGuDL
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) June 9, 2025
