He's been around the world, won the biggest prize in basketball, met thousands of fans in Sydney and Melbourne and signed a $12 million NBA contract, but Patrick Mills says nothing beats coming home to Canberra.
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And when Chief Minister Katy Gallagher presents him with the keys to Canberra at a Civic reception on Friday, the NBA championship winner hopes he'll get what public servants dream of: free parking.
Mills, the first Indigenous Australian to win an NBA title, arrived in the capital on Thursday night to a welcoming party of more than 20 family and friends waiting to greet him and the championship trophy - also known as "Larry".
Mills and the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA title last month when they beat the Miami Heat in a best-of-seven series, with Canberra's Mills playing a starring role on the sport's biggest stage.
"I'm touched and overwhelmed [to get the keys to the Canberra]. I'm lost for words. There are a lot of emotions right now. Maybe I'll get some free parking [with the keys]," Mills said.
"This is special because I'm home, this is home and I can't wait for the reception [on Friday].
"I walked off the plane and I felt the cold. I love this, this is the support I've been getting throughout my whole career and if it wasn't for this support it wouldn't be as motivating."
With his arm in a sling just two weeks after shoulder surgery, Mills signed The Canberra Times posters for family and surprised onlookers as he arrived back in Canberra for the first time in almost a year.
The NBA trophy - all 46 kilograms of it - was locked away in its travel box.
The Spurs and NBA granted permission for the players to take the trophy on a worldwide tour to their home towns, which started in Argentina, arrived in Canberra on Thursday night and will be at Thursday Island on Monday.
Mills scored 17 points in a championship-defining game-five run to lift Spurs to the title and he was rewarded with a three-year, $12 million deal to stay in San Antonio.
"This is a rare moment, I don't think anything like this [the NBA trophy] has ever been brought to Canberra and I'm very excited about it," Mills said.
"No question that this is where it all started for me with school, footy, basketball and athletics. This is why I'm back home."
NBA CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY TOUR
Friday: Patrick Mills and Aron Baynes will be at a Civic reception at Civic Square from 12pm. Basketball ACT will host Aussie Hoops clinics for children. The Canberra Times posters will be available at the Civic reception.
