Rumours are swelling Patty Mills could be set for a homecoming and cap off his decorated basketball career at an NBL franchise.
The NBA champion and top five Olympic Games scorer's interest in returning to Australia has long been speculated, but ramped up this week with reports he has entered early discussions with a team.
Earlier this week, ESPN's Olgun Uluc said: "one large market team" had spoken with Mills.
On Friday, CODE Sports reported those discussions with the Perth Wildcats could be confirmed.
It comes after NBL owner Larry Kestelman said: "I would be surprised if Patty at some stage doesn't come and play here."
"I know that's his want and intent. But when that is, needs to be on his terms, when he feels great about it," Kestelman said.
"So I can't speak for whether it's this year or next, but our hope is that he absolutely comes and plays in front of his family and fans here in the NBL."
The Brisbane Bullets are reportedly also interested in the veteran guard, but are not understood to have reached out as yet.
Mills' previously played with Melbourne Tigers, now Melbourne United, during the NBA's 2011 lockout.
He's bounced across six US franchises in the last five years, most recently to the LA Clippers, with limited court time coming off the bench after 16 years in the states.
Mills won an NBA Championship with the San Antonia Spurs in 2014.
The Wildcats will have some space on their roster with the departure of American five-time NBL MVP, and three time NBL champion Bryce Cotton to Puerto Rican side Guaynabo Mets in late March.
29-year-old Indigenous star Keanu Pinder's time at Perth has also come into some doubt after signing with Shanxi Loongs in China during the final stages of the 2024-25 NBL season.
In a post to Instagram Pinder wrote "Perth City Showed Love…Will always be missed!".
Mills has averaged just five minutes on the court and 3.1 points per game with the Clippers across 12 games since crossing from the Utah Jazz in February.
A month earlier, Mills became the first Australian to reach 1000 NBA games.
