Australian star Patrick Mills says he ''belongs'' next to the best players in the world and wants his NBA journey to motivate indigenous children to chase their dreams.
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Mills and the San Antonio Spurs will start their quest for basketball's biggest prize when the NBA finals begin in Miami on Friday.
The kid from Canberra will line up against one of the biggest names in world sport - LeBron James - and the superstar Miami Heat team as he aims to become the first indigenous Australian to win an NBA championship ring.
But while the NBA life is a world away from Mills' humble upbringing in the capital, he's desperate for his home town to adopt the Spurs as ''their team'' in the best of seven series. Mills also hopes being on centre stage for one of the most watched sporting events will give him a chance to enhance his standing as an indigenous role model.
''I really want Canberra to jump on board and support us and hopefully with this and after the Olympic Games last year we can get that following in basketball going again,'' Mills said.
''I've always played with three flags - the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and the Australian.
''I'm happy to say I'm the first indigenous and Canberra guy to play in the NBA finals. It's an achievement, it's huge for me, the culture, the sport and Canberra.
''Nothing was ever handed on a silver platter so I'm just hoping everyone back home can soak it up and get behind us.
''I want to be a role model and set a good example for other young indigenous - not just indigenous, but all Australian kids - I'd like to give them some motivation to achieve their dreams.''
Mills' parents Benny and Yvonne are in Miami for the opening game of the series.
There's a a distinct Australian flavour at the Spurs as Mills is joined by former Boomers coach Brett Brown and his former AIS teammate Aron Baynes.
The series is billed as a clash of the champion team Spurs and the team of champions Heat, which boasts a line-up including James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the NBA's all-time leading three-point shooter Ray Allen.
Mills started the season as the back-up to Spurs' French star point guard Tony Parker, but is now third in the pecking order.
The 24-year-old was the leading scorer at the London Olympics, topping a list which included James - the man widely regarded as the world's best player - Kobe Bryant, Parker and Kevin Durant.
Those performances have given Mills the confidence he's ready to step up if coach Gregg Popovich calls on him in a clutch situation.
Mills has averaged just 2.4 minutes a game in his seven appearances in the play-offs.
''But I'm going to come out of this a smarter player and a smarter person if I handle it right,'' Mills said.
- with Roy Ward