San Antonio Spurs basketball player Patty Mills has shown off sporting wear celebrating Mabo Day in a show of cultural and political pride.
“It was Under Armour’s idea. It’s all a part of who I am, and being a proud representation of my culture. It’s pretty special,” Mills told sports Journalist Nick Metallinos who later tweeted about it.
"I asked Patty if this shoe was just a P.E. or if it will get a wider release: “Just for me. We’ll see what we can do in Australia, but I think it’ll do well, so we’ll see,” he added.
Mills' father is a Torres Strait islander and his mother is an Aboriginal woman from South Australia. His mother is a victim of the Stolen generations.
The 29-year-old has played in the NBA since 2009, and with the Spurs since 2012.
In 2014 Mills was moved to tears when his coach Gregg Popovich who asked the team to help Mills celebrate Mabo Day on June 3 around the time of that year's finals.
“It was unbelievable,” Mills told the San Antonio Express News.
“I had no idea Pop was going to do it. I had no idea he even knew about (Mabo Day), but for him to bring that up in a meeting before the NBA Finals, just to give everyone a heads-up, was very special.”
