For five excruciating hours Patrick Mills sat patiently in New York's Madison Square Garden theatre watching 54 other young basketball prodigies realise their dreams and receive an invitation to the NBA.

Sitting alongside him were his equally nervous parents, Benny and Yvonne, girlfriend Alyssa Lavek and an entourage of family and friends.

Just before midnight, with the theatre almost empty of spectators and just six places remaining in the second round of the NBA draft, the Canberra-born point guard finally heard his name.

With the 55th pick of the draft, the Portland Trail Blazers chose Mills.

"Things did get a bit tense," said a relieved Mills, who some draft experts predicted would be selected as early as the 25th pick after his dazzling performance for Australia at the 2008 Olympics and US college team St Mary's.

Although it was a long wait, to hear his name was a dream come true for the 20-year-old.

Mills becomes the second indigenous Australian to be drafted in basketball's elite competition after compatriot Nathan Jawai was selected last year and plays for the Toronto Raptors.

He joins another Australian Olympian, Andrew Bogut, selected number one by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2005. Mills late second round selection does not guarantee a place in Portland's team and a multi-million dollar contract.

If Mills was one of the first 30 players selected he would have become an instant millionaire, however, NBA teams do not have to guarantee contracts for second round picks. He is not concerned.

Mills is ready to earn a place with the Trail Blazers, a team stacked with young talent headed by 2.13cm tall centre Greg Oden, the number one pick in the 2007 draft.

"Coming into this draft I didn't think June 25 was the important date," Mills said. "What was important was the first day of practice with the team where I'd have to step my game up and prove that I belong on the team.

"That's what I can control.

"I just need to work hard and prove I can play at this level."

He also knows his hard work may inspire other young Australians.

"This means a lot to indigenous Australians and all young Australians," he said.

"I take it upon myself to be a role model and I stand strong to represent them in a good manner."

Mills was surprised Portland was the team that finally took a chance on him because he did not visit the team for a pre-draft workout. Mills visited 10 other teams. Portland chose three other players before selecting Mills.

"It was a kind of a surprise, but I'm very excited," Mills said.

"Portland is a great city. It's on the west coast so it's closer to Australia than the east coast.

"The weather isn't that great up there, but I'll see how it goes."

When Mills' name was finally called out by NBA deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, he stood up, hugged his father, kissed his mother and in his slick tan three piece suit and with a Portland basketball cap on his head, made the long walk down to the stage.

"My parents were very proud," he said.

"The night was very special for me because I had my family here and I realised a life long dream of being drafted into the NBA."

A raucous party in Manhattan was not being planned. After five hours sitting on the hard seats of the famed New York theatre, the Mills clan had one thing on their minds.

"We'll grab something to eat," Mills laughed. "That's first on the list."

Mills' long wait resulted in a happy ending, but it was not so good for three other elite young Australian basketballers who nominated themselves for the draft - Joe Ingles, Luke Nevill and Aron Baynes. They all failed to be selected.

The Los Angeles Clippers had the number one pick and selected Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin. International players continue to exert their influence on the NBA with Tanzania's Hasheem Thabeet the number two pick by Memphis and Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio selected fifth by Minnesota.

Peter Mitchell
AAP