NBA championship-winner Patty Mills says he decided to re-sign with San Antonio because "it feels like home", adamant he can help the Spurs continue a remarkable play-off record next season.
Mills is still coming to grips with his new $A65 million deal as he prepares to take on a leadership role at the Spurs, who will be shooting for a 21st consecutive play-off berth.
The 28-year-old wants to repay the organisation with another championship and ensures a new generation carry on the Spurs culture as the franchise braces for a changing of the guard.
Veteran point guard Tony Parker is 35 and his contract expires next year, while Manu Ginobili will play at least one more season after turning 40 years old last week.
The pair have been crucial cogs for most of the Spurs' golden run of play-off appearances every year since 1998 and five championships since 1999.
But Mills represents the next group of players to take the reins, and the Canberra junior wants to keep a proud record intact.
"San Antonio is more of a home than anything to be honest," Mills said.
"They saw me as a huge part of their organisation to continue this Spurs culture and that's nice to know, and that's something I'm really keen to do.
"You can't look past the 20 consecutive year play-off run. It's something that's very hard to do, let alone winning five NBA titles.
"To know that I'm a big part of trying to keep this culture going and that the Spurs stay the Spurs, that new guys understand the culture.
"We play the right way at the Spurs. We don't go about business the wrong way, we play hard and represent the Spurs the best way we can."
Mills will be back in Canberra on Sunday as part of a national tour to launch his new book, 'Game Day!', which is largely based on his journey from the schoolyard to the world's best basketball league.
Mills is one of Australia's highest-paid sportsmen, but is driven by a desire to win his second NBA championship after breaking through for his first in 2014.
His future at the Spurs has been clouded slightly after superstar Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio was rumoured as one of his preferred destinations.
However, Mills' new contract means he cannot be used as trade bait until December and he is keen to throw everything he can into another championship bid.
The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets have built 'super teams' in the western conference, recruiting the best players in the league to bolster their rosters.
But the Spurs have built their record on a hard-working team rather than NBA megastars and Mills believes they can still be a force after losing the western conference final against the Warriors last season.
"We had guys like Tim Duncan and he was massive for the Spurs culture, he's someone I still look up to now," Mills said.
"The values I have as a person are the same as the whole Spurs organisation and that's why it feels like home.
"I had a look at the market and I think I deserved that, but the Spurs is home and it's refreshing in the NBA. I want to be a part of carrying on what has already been in place."
