Legends profile: Reggie Miller

Reggie Miller’s legend was largely formed during his playoff games against the Knicks in the 1990s.

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Reggie Miller, a dynamic and explosive scorer from the off guard position, was one of the elite shooters in basketball history. He concluded his career with 2,560 successful 3-pointers, making him the NBA’s top long-range shooter. Miller accumulated 25,279 points, ranking him 12th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list upon his retirement.

Despite his retirement, Ray Allen and Stephen Curry have overtaken him as the NBA’s all-time 3-point leader and he’s dropped a few positions on the all-time scoring list. However, his legacy remains significant.

Miller was known for his spectacular, gunslinger-style clutch shots that made him a formidable and disliked adversary. His heroic performances in the crucial moments of games were famously termed as “Miller Time.”

The Indiana Pacers selected the slim former UCLA Bruin, standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 190 pounds, as the 11th overall pick in the 1987 Draft. He devoted all of his 18-year career to the Pacers, securing his place as a legendary figure within the annals of Hoosier state history.

During his junior year at UCLA, he was the fourth highest scorer in the nation, averaging 25.9 points per game, and in his senior year, he averaged 22.3 points per game. When he was drafted, he was second on the all-time scoring list at the school, only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. However, despite his achievements, the slim shooter wasn’t received as warmly by the home state fans who favored Indiana University’s All-American guard, Steve Alford.

Miller, however, played more games with a single team than any other NBA player, with the exception of John Stockton and Karl Malone from the Utah Jazz. He was instrumental in leading the Pacers from obscurity to the Finals and numerous postseason adventures. A large portion of his playoff drama centered around his fiercest rival, the New York Knicks, often unfolding on one of the NBA’s most iconic courts: Madison Square Garden.

He hailed from a highly athletic family. His elder brother, Darrell, spent five seasons as a catcher/outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels. His sister, Cheryl, was a basketball phenomenon at USC and is regarded as one of the greatest female players of all time. Nevertheless, Miller’s initiation into a professional athletic career was quite auspicious.

He was born with a hip deformity that resulted in severely splayed feet, necessitating the use of leg braces until he was four years old in an attempt to rectify the birth defect. Medical professionals were unsure if he would ever be able to walk without assistance. The braces were removed when he was five, and Miller worked hard to catch up with his athletically-inclined siblings.

Upon entering the NBA, Miller quickly made his mark in the record books. He surpassed the eight-year record previously held by Larry Bird by scoring 61 3-pointers in the 1987-88 season, the highest by any rookie in NBA history. However, this record was later broken by Dennis Scott, who made a staggering 125 3-pointers in the 1990-91 season.

In his inaugural season, Miller achieved an average of 10.0 points per game, with a field shooting average of .488 and a 3-point range average of .355. Although he only started one game and served as a backup for seasoned player John Long, Miller was the only Pacer who participated in all 82 games that season.

Miller’s scoring average elevated to 16.0 ppg in his second season, leading Indiana with 93 steals. However, his real breakthrough came in the 1989-90 season.

For the second consecutive season, Miller’s scoring average soared, this time reaching a career peak of 24.6 ppg, making him the eighth best in the NBA. Miller’s unceasing movement and knack for navigating through and around multiple picks and screens turned defending him into an activity-filled obstacle course.

He was the first Pacer to participate in the NBA All-Star Game after Don Buse and Billy Knight in 1977. Additionally, he was the second-best contender for the NBA Most Improved Player Award, coming behind the Miami Heat’s Rony Seikaly.

In 1990, Indiana made it to the playoffs for the first time during Miller’s career. However, their time there was short-lived as they were swept off in the first-round series by the defending champion, the Detroit Pistons, even though Miller had an average of 20.7 points per game and a .571 shooting average.

Larry Brown assumed the role of Indiana’s coach in 1993-94. Even though Miller’s scoring average dipped to 19.9 ppg, he ended up second in free-throw percentage and was third in 3-point field-goal percentage throughout the league. He also set a record as the team’s all-time leading scorer and became the fourth player in NBA history to score 800 3-pointers during his career.

That year, the Pacers clinched victory in 47 games and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. During the playoffs, Miller’s average was 23.2 points per game. However, his outstanding performance in Game 5 of the East finals against the New York Knicks is likely to be remembered as his breakout moment on the national stage. This series reinforced the notion that, with Miller on the court, the Pacers consistently had a shot at victory.

In that match, Miller scored 25 points in the final quarter, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the 3-point line, propelling Indiana to a 93-86 comeback win at Madison Square Garden. During his impressive scoring spree, Miller traded jabs with famous filmmaker and Knicks superfan, Spike Lee, at courtside. The home crowd was stunned by his performance, marking the climax of the love-hate relationship between the Garden supporters and Miller.

The Knicks claimed victory in the subsequent two games, securing the 1994 series. Despite Miller’s 25-point contribution in Game 7, he failed to make a crucial 3-pointer from the right elbow in the final moments, resulting in a 94-90 loss.

Miller’s outstanding performance in Game 5 is considered one of the most remarkable individual efforts in playoff history, catapulting him to stardom. The following summer, he served as a tri-captain for the U.S. National team, which won a gold medal at the 1994 World Championship of Basketball. Miller was the team’s top scorer, averaging 17.1 points per game.

Miller and the Pacers had a similar outcome in the 1994-95 season to previous ones, but there were many accomplishments along the way. He was chosen by fans to start the 1995 All-Star Game and was also named to the All-NBA Third Team. The Pacers had a standout season, setting a club record with 50 wins and claiming their first division title since transitioning from the ABA, where they were championship winners.

In the opening round of the playoffs, Miller torched the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 31.7 points per game. His performance in Game 2 was particularly impressive, scoring 39 points and making 7 3-pointers.

His crowning moment as a clutch performer might have been during Game 1 of the conference semifinals in New York. With the Pacers trailing by six and only 16.9 seconds left on the clock, Miller scored a 3-pointer. He then intercepted the inbound pass, dribbled back to the 3-point line and landed another shot to level the score. After the Knicks missed two free throws, Miller made two, securing the Pacers’ victory at 107-105.

Miller racked up eight points in just 8.9 seconds, leaving both the audience and the entire basketball community in shock.

Ewing, a longstanding adversary, would later remark, “When you’re up against him, you feel the urge to smack him. But once you’re on his side, you’re there to support him. You hold the highest regard for him. He always stepped up, played relentlessly, and did whatever was required to lead his team to victory… We’ve engaged in numerous battles and wars. I hold him in the highest esteem.”

The storm of points was similar to his 25-point surge in the fourth quarter of Game 5 in the 1994 Eastern Conference finals. However, this time, despite two consecutive losses, the Pacers managed to beat the Knicks in the series. In Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, Miller ensured the Knicks were defeated by scoring 29 points.

Miller had an explosive performance in the next round against the Orlando Magic, led by Shaquille O’Neal. His first six games were particularly impressive. In Game 1, he scored 17 points in the first period alone, ending the game with a total of 26 points. He then racked up 37 points in Game 2. In the first half of Game 6, he scored 28 points, culminating in a 36-point evening. However, in Game 7, Miller was kept under control and the Pacers lost 101-85. Despite this, Miller ended the playoffs with a remarkable average of 25.5 points per game.

After the 1994-95 season, Miller was selected for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team, which subsequently won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Miller and the Pacers found the following two seasons disappointing. Despite securing a win in 52 games for the second year running in the 1995-96 season, the Pacers’ progress was closely tied to Miller’s performance. Regrettably, after a collision on April 13 that resulted in a fractured eye socket, Miller was unable to recover quickly enough to aid the Pacers in their first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks and Pacers split the first four games without Miller in the lineup. He made a sensational return in Game 5 at Market Square Arena, in front of the home crowd. Despite scoring 29 points, his effort wasn’t enough to secure a win, as the Hawks clinched a two-point victory, thereby ending Indiana’s season.

In the following season, the Pacers’ performance declined to 39-43 and Coach Larry Brown resigned at the end of the season.

Before the 1997-98 campaign, Indiana native and legend Larry Bird joined the Pacers as their new coach. He was handed the reins of a veteran team featuring the likes of Miller, Rik Smits, Dale Davis, and point guard Mark Jackson, who had returned to the Pacers from Denver mid-season the previous year. The team was also bolstered by the addition of veteran sharp-shooter Chris Mullin.

After defeating the Cavaliers and Knicks in the playoffs, Indiana moved on to a highly anticipated showdown with the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, in the 1998 Eastern Conference finals. The Pacers came into the series with confidence, having split the four regular season games against the two-time defending champions. Despite losing two narrow games in Chicago, the Pacers made the Memorial Day Weekend unforgettable with two exciting victories at home.

Despite a sprained ankle, Miller, who is known for his playoff heroics that have marked his impressive career, scored 13 of his 28 points in the last four and a half minutes of the 107-105 Game 3 victory.

His reputation as a clutch performer was established, but he was equally notorious for his grabbing and flopping tactics. These strategies either got him the referee’s favor or allowed him to take his shots. His unusual handling of hands and arms proved vital in Game 4. He was heavily defended by Jordan, yet he managed to knock Jordan off balance with his hands, freeing himself to make an incredible 3-pointer with only 2.7 seconds left. This shot gave the Pacers a narrow 96-94 victory.

The home teams managed to maintain their advantage for the next two games, leading to a Game 7 in Chicago. The Pacers were ahead 72-69 in an intensely contested game with less than nine minutes left. However, the Bulls, destined to claim their third consecutive NBA title, stepped up their defense and controlled the rebounds. With some crucial shots towards the end by Scottie Pippen, the Pacers’ season was brought to a close with a score of 88-83.

In 1998-99, the NBA experienced a labor lockout which resulted in a shortened 50-game schedule. The Pacers and Miami Heat both secured the top record in the Eastern Conference with a 33-17 win-loss record. On a personal note, Miller concluded the season as the NBA’s all-time leader for 3-pointers made, with 1,702, and attempted, with 4,225.

The team made it to the Eastern Conference finals for the fourth time in six years, however, their journey to the NBA Finals was once again obstructed in a challenging six-game series by the unexpectedly strong eighth-seed New York Knicks.

At last, in the following season, the Pacers made it to The Finals.

Miller and the Pacers encountered a formidable Lakers team, spearheaded by O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Pacers lost the initial two games away. However, they triumphed in Game 3, marking the first NBA Finals home game victory in the franchise’s history. They almost clinched Game 4 as well but were defeated 120-118 in overtime.

Despite the Pacers thrashing the Lakers 120-87 in Game 5, Los Angeles clinched the series in Game 6 with a 116-111 victory in L.A. Throughout the series, Miller averaged 24.3 points per game.

During Miller’s final five years with the Pacers, the team underwent many transitions, yet it was apparent that he remained the team leader.

After three highly successful seasons, Bird left the bench, but was succeeded by another Indiana legend – the former IU and NBA star, Isiah Thomas.

As Rose emerged as a more prominent offensive option in 2000-01, Miller’s offense notably declined. The Pacers, now with many new team members and less experience, understandably faced difficulties. Their record for the season was 41-41, which granted them the No. 8 seed in the East.

Once again, Miller dominated the Pacers’ postseason. He scored a classic 3-pointer with just 2.9 seconds remaining, leading to a surprising 79-78 win in Game 1 in Philadelphia. Over the next three games, Miller averaged 36.0 points per game. Despite his outstanding performance, the Sixers bounced back and won the series in four games.

During the 2001-02 season, Miler led the NBA in free throw accuracy (91.1) for the fourth time in his career, achieving this feat for the second consecutive season and for the third time in the past four seasons. Meanwhile, Indiana showed a slight improvement with a record of 42-40 and once again secured the No. 8 seed.

Despite being pushed to the edge, the top-seeded New Jersey Nets were compelled by them. Miller’s decisive 40-foot 3-pointer at the end of Game 5 of the first-round series resulted in overtime. However, the Nets recovered and managed to win 120-109 in double overtime, thus securing the series.

Continually adapting, the Pacers swiftly restructured themselves into a competitive team. Following a two-year hiatus from the franchise, Bird returned, albeit in the capacity of team president. Not long after, Thomas was succeeded by Rick Carlisle, Bird’s ex-assistant coach who had been let go in Detroit despite two prosperous seasons.

The Pacers had an NBA-best finish in 2003-04 with a 61-21 record, setting a franchise record for wins. However, they were defeated by the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals, which ended in six games.

Miller’s last campaign started off with him being on the injured list due to a broken bone in his left hand sustained during the preseason. Furthermore, the Pacers’ team was significantly weakened following a severe brawl with the Pistons, leading to several extended player suspensions. In the face of this fractured team, Miller returned with renewed vigor, once again becoming a primary choice.

In the absence of O’Neal, the team’s leading scorer, he managed to score a minimum of 30 points six times and averaged nearly 20 points per game.

Miller had his final game in the Garden in early April, the venue that witnessed many of his exceptional performances. Despite the lack of climax, it was not devoid of emotion. The Knicks were no longer in the running for the playoffs and many of their New York rivals had moved on, but the fans were still there, recollecting the battle scars.

At first, he was met with boos. However, as the game neared its end – one where he only scored 13 points – the crowd began chanting “Reg-gie, Reg-gie” and acknowledged his effort with a standing ovation. Miller concluded the event by hugging Lee, who personified the Knicks’ opposition to Miller.

The Pacers made a late regular season surge, not only qualifying for the playoffs, but securing the sixth seed. They caused an upset by defeating the Atlantic Division champions, Boston, in a seven-game first round. However, despite a heroic 27-point performance from Miller in his final game, the Pacers – lacking sufficient manpower – succumbed to the reigning champion Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals, 4-2.

As the game was drawing to a close, Miller made his final exit amidst a lengthy hometown applause. Brown, who was coaching the Pistons at the time, kindly called a timeout. This gesture allowed the entire Pistons team to join in with the crowd, continuing to cheer for him in recognition of his remarkable career.

After his impressive career, Miller became an NBA analyst for TNT before the 2005-06 season. He performed a dual role, calling games as well as making guest analyst appearances on TNT’s Emmy award-winning show, “Inside the NBA.”

Though Miller had numerous on-court successes, he was not a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011, his first eligible year. However, he joined the ranks of all-time legends in Springfield, Mass., just a year later.