Patty Mills is a proud Torres Strait Islander and has instilled a ‘gold vibes only’ mantra in the squad. Picture: Matthew Adekponya.
PATTY Mills’ all-Aussie playlist is still powering the Boomers’ ‘gold vibes only’ mantra ahead of the FIBA World Cup.
Prior to the squad’s 10-day camp in Cairns, rookie Dyson Daniels expressed a desire to become the team’s unofficial DJ.
And when the New Orleans Pelicans guard exited the team bus with a portable speaker ahead of training last week, some wondered if Mills had passed on the responsibility.
But team staff have confirmed the Aussie anthems that fuelled the national team’s bronze medal run at the Tokyo Olympics remain on high rotation.
“Carrying the speaker doesn’t mean you have control of the aux cord, or the bluetooth,” team photographer Matthew Adekponya says laughing.
“If anything, you could say Patty’s doubled down. Things get added but there’s only one guy in charge of the music.
“It’s basically all the pub classics … kind of like a Sunday sesh at your local hotel and it’s 2pm.”
In addition to belters from AC/DC, Cold Chisel, Men at Work and Dire Straits, more contemporary Aussie gems have been added.
“Everyone had to add their top three Australian tracks and send them through to Patty first,” Junior Viranatuleo says.
The name of Mills’ patriotic playlist remains unknown.
“It’s very tight-lipped and not publicly accessible. It’s just for the camp,” Adekponya says.
Mills has also been known to pepper his team playlists with First Nations artists including Yothu Yindi in the past.
– story by Samuel Davis
