Abdul Mills Blog
                  A Deli Correspondent in the NBDL

 

 

D-League Showcase & A Player Slips Up - January 28, 2008

Sorry that I took so long to get back at you blog fans but I recently hurt myself during our 12-day road trip and I wasn't able to concentrate on anything but the injury. I hurt my knee during our game in Texas and tried to play through the pain for three more games. After that, the [injury] was too [painful] and I [was] sidelined for four games. I had to get x-rays. They really didn't tell me much about my injury so I have to wait until the MRI comes back. I have been getting treatment and trying all kinds of massages on the area that was badly bruised. The doctor told me that it was a bone bruise and that I should take some time off. I've been back in New Mexico since then, so I want to give you a recap of my week and some of the game info.

Last week we had a showcase in Boise, Idaho. It was a good situation for players because it gave us an opportunity to showcase our in front of different NBA scouts. All the teams from the NBA had scouts at the game so it was important for me not only to play, but to perform while I was on the court. My team didn't do well in the showcase (we lost both of the games that we played) but, from an individual standpoint, I played ok. [Editor's note: Mills had 6 assists in the first game of the showcase and 18 points, 5 rebounds in the second game].

NBA scouts not only judge you when you're on the court, but they also watch you closely off the court as well. The last night in Idaho a lot of the players from the D-League decided to go to the local bar. Well, all of the scouts and people from the D-League front office were at the bar. It was nice to see everyone out, but at the end of the night one of the players ended up getting in trouble. JamesOn Curry from the Chicago Bulls was arrested and later released from the Iowa Energy. Most importantly, he lost his spot in the NBA. The Chicago Bulls released Curry as a result of his arrest. It was a bad situation for a person who was a good kid but had too much to drink.

 

Allow Me to Introduce Myself - January 13, 2008

I just want to start off by saying thank you to Aaron Hart Fischman for giving me the opportunity to share my story with you, blog fans.

Blog fans, what's really good? Abdul Mills, reporting from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I want to start by saying that this is my first blog, so bear with me; please. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City. I went to Martin Luther King High School in Manhatten for three years, then transferred to a prep school called Milford Academy, located in Milford, Connecticut. My high school experience was wonderful. There were so many things to do, learning was fun and basketball was great.

After graduating high school, I went to Providence College in Providence, RI and I had a lot of fun there. I went through so much at that school in the last couple of years there because I was hurt. But, for the most part, I enjoyed some of the people that I have met there.

I played for three years at Providence. During my third year I injured my hip and it required surgery. The next year, right after the hip surgery, I had to have back surgery because of a disc problem. I was granted another year of eligibility from the NCAA, but the school didn't return me. I wanted to finish my career there, but I guess they had other plans so, soon after, I was off to another school to finish up my career.

After leaving Providence, I attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha. I am very thankful to the coaches there; they understood what had happened to me and they welcomed me with open arms. I finished there with the best record in school history. That season we tied the record for most games won consecutively, we won the conference and we finished ranked 5th or 6th in the country.

My pro career started in Panevezys, Lithuania. The team there wasn't so good but we improved upon my arrival. The next year I was sent to Greece. The situation there was cool, but I guess the team didn't really think that I was going to be the answer to their problems. When I arrived in Greece, the team I played for had lost 7 or 8 games in a row. My first game we got a win against a very good team, but they felt I wasn't the answer to their problems so they released me after the second game. Two days later, I was picked up by a Euro-league team for the remaining game of the Euro-league season.

I came home to play for one of my dear friends, Kenny Charles, who coached in the NBDL with the Brooklyn Kings. We went to the championship game but lost. During that short period of time I really learned a lot of valuable knowledge of the game.

Which brings me to now. Currently, I am playing in the D-League for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. It is a very good opportunity for me because this is the first time I can showcase my ability in front of NBA scouts. I feel, since my injuries, I have not had the opportunity to show-case myself. I felt that it was the right thing to do because I feel my best and I am healthy and ready to go.

Best wishes to all,

Abdul Mills

 

Check back with Abdul soon to see how he progresses in the NBDL. As of this posting, on January 28, Abdul is averaging 8.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in 28.2 minutes of play. He is starting for the Thunderbirds at guard, often alongside former college stars Kevin Pittsnoggle and Alando Tucker. The Thunderbirds are the minor league representative of the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. We hope to see Abdul in the NBA soon.