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| Terry Mills | |
|---|---|
| Name | Terry Mills |
| Position | Power forward / Center |
| Height in | 11 |
| Weight lb | 265 |
| Birth date | 30 August 1967 |
| Birth place | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| College | Michigan (1986–1988), Kentucky (1989–1991) |
| Draft year | 1990 |
| Draft pick | 16 |
| Draft team | Denver Nuggets |
| Career start | 1991 |
| Career end | 2006 |
| Years1 | 1991–1993 |
| Team1 | Pallacanestro Reggiana |
| Years2 | 1993–1994 |
| Team2 | Charlotte Hornets |
| Years3 | 1994–1998 |
| Team3 | New Jersey Nets |
| Years4 | 1998–2000 |
| Team4 | Detroit Pistons |
| Years5 | 2000–2001 |
| Team5 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Years6 | 2001–2003 |
| Team6 | Denver Nuggets |
| Years7 | 2004–2006 |
| Team7 | Houston Rockets |
Terry Mills is an American retired professional basketball player and coach known for his perimeter shooting, size, and tenure in the National Basketball Association. He played collegiate basketball with Michigan Wolverines men's basketball and Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball, was a first-round pick in the 1990 NBA draft, and enjoyed a multi-team NBA career spanning the Charlotte Hornets, New Jersey Nets, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, and Houston Rockets. Post-playing, he transitioned into coaching and youth development roles in the Detroit area.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Mills attended Southwestern High School (Detroit) where he emerged as a highly recruited center, earning attention from programs such as Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, and Duke University. He enrolled at Michigan and played under coach Steve Fisher during the late 1980s alongside teammates from the Big Ten Conference era who later joined the National Basketball Association. After transferring, he sat out per NCAA transfer rules and resumed his collegiate career with Kentucky under coach Rick Pitino, contributing to Wildcats rosters that competed in the Southeastern Conference and participated in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
Mills entered the 1990 NBA draft and was selected in the first round by the Denver Nuggets, though he initially opted to play overseas with Pallacanestro Reggiana in the Lega Basket Serie A before beginning his NBA career. He made his NBA debut with the Charlotte Hornets and later signed with the New Jersey Nets, where he developed a reputation for three-point shooting from the power forward position, complementing teammates and opponents from franchises including the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and San Antonio Spurs. Returning to his hometown, Mills joined the Detroit Pistons and featured alongside players associated with the Eastern Conference playoff races, contributing to team efforts in the NBA Playoffs and regular-season campaigns. Later stints included the Milwaukee Bucks, a return to the Denver Nuggets, and a final run with the Houston Rockets, where he played with stars and role players from the Western Conference and confronted tactical trends driven by executives and coaches from organizations such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns.
After retiring, Mills moved into coaching and community basketball development, taking roles in high school and AAU circuits within Detroit and the broader Michigan region, working with programs linked to institutions like Cass Technical High School (Detroit) and local municipal youth initiatives. He has been involved with basketball clinics, camps, and player development efforts that intersect with collegiate recruiting pipelines to programs such as Michigan State and Detroit Mercy, while collaborating with former NBA players and coaches from organizations including the National Basketball Players Association and various NBA G League affiliates. Mills has also participated in alumni activities for Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball and Michigan Wolverines men's basketball, appearing at charity events with representatives from the Basketball Hall of Fame community and regional sports foundations.
Mills is a native of Detroit, Michigan and has been engaged in philanthropic and youth mentorship initiatives in the city, associating with local institutions such as Focus: HOPE and area civic organizations. His family ties include connections to Detroit-area schools and churches, and he has maintained relationships with former collegiate teammates and NBA contemporaries from teams including the New Jersey Nets and Detroit Pistons. Off the court, Mills has been referenced in media outlets covering Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and regional newspapers such as the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News.
Mills is remembered for helping popularize perimeter shooting among taller forwards during the 1990s, influencing subsequent player development trends examined by analysts at outlets like The Athletic and academics studying basketball analytics at institutions including Syracuse University and Johns Hopkins University. His career statistics and notable single-season achievements have been cataloged in databases maintained by Basketball-Reference.com and celebrated by alumni networks at Kentucky and Michigan. Mills has been invited to alumni ceremonies, veteran games, and local halls of fame in Michigan, and remains a cited example in discussions about transitions from international leagues such as the Lega Basket Serie A back to the National Basketball Association.
Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:American men's basketball players Category:Basketball players from Detroit