This month the Perth Wildcats announced former Director of Scouting at Philadelphia 76ers Danny Mills would join the team as General Manager of Basketball Operations.
Mills’ primary role will be to oversee the basketball department, with a particular focus on recruitment, talent identification and player pathway strategy and development.
Mills was born and raised in Perth and played juniors for both Wanneroo Wolves and Willetton Tigers. He was an eight-time WA State Team representative, a Perth Wildcats training squad member in 2002-03 and played college basketball at Oregon Tech from 2004-07. He joined the podcast to talk about his time with the 76ers during its "Trust the Process" era, thoughts on Ben Simmons and his future, plans for the Wildcats roster for this season and memories of his time as a player and being a lifelong Wildcats fan. Topics include... How the role was offered to Danny and what a general manager of basketball does (2:00) Danny's experiences playing basketball as a junior, being a part of the AIS squad which included Andrew Bogut and his college career (4:00) Memories of the NBL growing up in Perth and being a huge Wildcats fan (9:00) How he was able to get a role as a scout with the Philadelphia 76ers and how that led to the role with the Perth Wildcats (13:00) Being a part of "The Process" in Philadelphia and what he learnt from it (15:00) Thoughts on Ben Simmons current situation (23:00) How Perth is different to every NBL team and what the team is focused on for future success (31:00) The background on signing new head coach Scott Morrison (36:00) Signing Vic Law (41:00) The Wildcats roster needs for this season and what he plans to focus on next (43:00) Thoughts on the next star program and is it something they intend to utilise this season? (51:00) What the Wildcats will do with their vacant third and import spot (56:00)Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms.
Listen to our previous interviews with the biggest stars in Australian Basketball, head to Aussiehoopla.com. Check out previous podcasts featuring;
Australian Basketball Legends - Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, Phil Smyth, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Damian Martin
Current NBL Stars - Jack White, Dejan Vasiljevic, AJ Ogilvy, Daniel Kickert, Thomas Abercrombie, Jason Cadee, Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Mitch McCarron, Cam Gliddon, Anthony Drmic, Brad Newley
Our Finest Coaching Minds - Brian Goorjian, Barry Barnes, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole, Will Weaver, Bruce Palmer
NBA Stars Past & Present - Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti, Ryan Broekhoff, Doug Overton, Donald Sloan
The NBL's Greatest Imports - Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Mike Mitchell, Darnell Mee, Isaac Burton, Adonis Jordan, Shawn Redhage, Willie Farley, Al Green, Corey "Homicide" Williams, Andre Moore, Steve Woodberry, Gary Ervin, Ebi Ere, Doug Overton, Kevin Lisch
And the men who run things - Larry Kestelman, Mal Speed, Paul Maley, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chuck Harmison, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner
All that and much more.
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