MBK | Mills Finishes As Top Olympics Scorer
8/13/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Courtesy: Basketball Australia
Former Saint Mary's guard and current Australian star Patty Mills finished ahead of NBA superstars Kevin Durant and Manu Ginobili to post the leading scoring average in the men's basketball competition at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Mills was the main offensive force for the Australian men's team in their drive to the Quarter Finals in London, and averaged 21.2 points per game for the tournament.
That ranked the Australian guard ahead of star Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant of Team USA (19.5 points per game) and Argentinean guard (and Mills' teammate on the San Antonio Spurs) Manu Ginobili (19.1).
Mills also finished ahead of Spanish star Pau Gasol and Team USA leading lights Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
The indigenous Australian star's Olympic haul included a superb 39-point game in Australia's win over host nation Great Britain, which was also the highest single-game scoring total of any player in London.
The only Australian ever to score more points in a single game at an Olympics is the legendary Eddie Palubinskas, who had 48 points against Mexico at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.
Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Kristina Keneally said Mills' performance in London was nothing short of inspirational.
"The efforts of Patty Mills in London were a terrific embodiment of the Australian spirit - he constantly took it up to tough opposition and just never backed down," said Ms. Keneally.
"For an Australian athlete to lead the scoring averages at an Olympic level is a shining example for all of our aspiring young athletes.
"The most exciting thing is that Patty is still very early on in his career with many more Olympic Games and World Championships ahead of him.
"For him to be the leading scorer among the best of the best in the world - on the largest possible international stage - at just 24 years of age bodes well for the future of Australian basketball."
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