BASKETBALL: Patty Mills is confident his shoulder will hold up in Australia's Rio Olympic qualifying campaign against New Zealand, insisting he wouldn't be playing if he wasn't in good shape.
The NBA star joined the Boomers for their first training session in Melbourne on Tuesday, having answered a late call to replace injured point guard Dante Exum for the two-leg Oceania series starting on Saturday.
Mills was initially left out of the squad after declaring himself unavailable for their warm-up tour of Europe so he could continue rehabilitation on his shoulder in Los Angeles.
The San Antonio Spurs champion admitted being omitted was tough, but had no qualms about returning to the national set-up after two years out.
"If there was any hesitation it was just my shoulder and the fact of playing and getting up and down," Mills, celebrating his 27th birthday, said on Tuesday.
"Other than that, it was a no-brainer.
"I always wanted to play for Australia, no matter what the circumstances.
"I love playing for Australia, and I put up my hand whenever I can."
Mills said his shoulder had come a "long way" in the past couple of months, with his focus on getting it as close to 100 per cent as possible before the next NBA season and the 2016 Olympic Games.
"If I wasn't in a position to play, then I don't think I'd be here," he added.
"I have full confidence in my shoulder, my condition and my ability at the moment.
"We haven't really talked nuts and bolts yet about minutes, but I think regardless of a couple of years missed on my behalf, my experience is what's going to trump learning plays and Xs and Os and what type of shape I'm in.
"My focus this week and throughout the series ... is to be competitive every possession - offensively, defensively - and that trumps most things."
Coach Andrej Lemanis was happy with the ease in which Mills returned to the Boomers, but hadn't yet decided on how he'll be used.
"At this stage, there's no expectation or limitation," Lemanis said.
"Just seeing him coming into the room yesterday and connecting with his teammates again, you can tell instantly there's a synergy and a respect and a camaraderie that comes with playing for the Australian national team."
AAP
