Spurs' Mills launches Indigenous basketball organization in Australia

San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills has launched a new initiative to enable Indigenous youth in his native Australia to pursue their basketball dreams.

Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA) will help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth overcome obstacles in the systems and structures of Australian basketball and create "pathways and opportunities at the grassroots level," according to a press release.

"Basketball as a sport has inspired me to be an exceptional athlete. It's allowed me to dream big and continually find ways to learn and grow," Mills said in a statement. "But my love of basketball has come from the fact that it has brought me happiness, joy, health, education, and knowledge with greater appreciation and perspective on life.

"At the end of the day, a platform was created for me to carry and be my true identity as an Australian, an Indigenous man of the land. When I combine those experiences, I become aware of the positive influence I can have on my own people in Australia who are continuously oppressed.

"It makes me want to work harder at finding ways to provide better opportunities to make a real impact on the lives of my people."

Commencing in 2021, IBA will focus on fundamental skills development and facilitate basketball competitions, national tournaments, and camps.

Mills announced earlier in July he'll be donating over $1 million to organizations combating racism in Australia.