General Mills

The native Australian is a nice player, but an unimposing physical specimen (6 foot, 175 pounds) whose skills are probably equaled by a number of players who will never make a living at the game of basketball.

There’s a quality of person, though, that is endearing in Mills and made the former Saint Mary’s point guard an attractive candidate to the Trail Blazers’ scouting staff.

“His coaches raved about him,” says Chad Buchanan, Portland’s director of college scouting. “In practice, he had an infectious energy and vibe, a positive aura that rubs off on people, whether it’s coaches, teammates or as he walks through the office. He was always in a good mood — very personable, had a good attitude about things. No wonder he’s one of the guys you gravitate to because of the positive energy he brings.”

Already a popular addition to the Portland community — approaching cult hero status, if you will — Mills has also been a welcome addition to the Blazer locker room. He is the first guy up slapping butts during timeouts, rooting his teammates on. And there seems to be nothing phony about it.

“He’s a character guy,” veteran point guard Andre Miller says of his understudy. “He brings a lot of energy on the court, and he keeps the bench involved when he’s not in the game. Sometimes you have to tell guys to do that, but it’s just his personality. He’s doing it on and off the court. He has brought some character to this team.”

“For whatever reason, the guys on the team just came together like you wouldn’t believe,” he says. “Even the veterans like Dre and (Marcus) Camby, hanging out with us — I haven’t felt like this with a team before. It’s a great thing to be a part of.

“There are a million examples of what we’re doing through the season. Everyone does well in bringing the team together, whether it’s making jokes or paying for dinner for everyone or organizing a bowling night. Everyone enjoys each other’s company. When we had that tough stretch at the beginning of the season and lost a few on the road, everyone had kind of ruled us out, We knew as long as we had that camaraderie, it was going to help us down the end of the track. And it has.”

“He played great in the Olympics,” Buchanan says. “We liked him. He had some warts like all players do, but there was something about him that kept us interested.”

Mills wound up being chosen by Portland with the 55th pick — late in the second round — of the 2009 draft.

“His size was an issue,” Buchanan says. “When you’re that little, you have to have a special trait, whether it’s ballhandling or speed of quickness or vision. Patty had the shooting, good speed and his personality.”

Coach Nate McMillan wasn’t satisfied with Johnson’s play as Miller’s backup, so he turned to Mills, who has provided a spark after he enters the game, often with close friend Rudy Fernandez with him in the backcourt.

“I admire the way (Mills) stuck with it,” Miller says. “He found a way to work his way in. He worked hard in practice, challenged guys. As the season got going, the opportunity came, and he has taken advantage of it.”