For a basketball player, the toughest opponents, the most committed duels, the most intense rivalries, it is in the NBA that he finds them. The best. The elite of the elite. He can compete with his peers. To the best players in the world. But for Reggie Miller, the apprenticeship of fierce one-on-one combat took place in the family garden. And his worst nightmare was living under the same roof. His big sister, Cheryl. The most talented athlete in the family. Today in the basketball pantheon for his university and Olympic performances.
The young man could not compete with her. First because he couldn’t walk properly, the fault of a malformation of the hips at birth. Years of wearing splints. His legs eventually grew and gained strength. He then started with the orange ball to follow in the footsteps of his sis. And their matches always ended the same way: with a victory for Cheryl.
“I destroyed it and I loved it,” said the person concerned.
It is also by dint of facing his elder, bigger and stronger, that Reggie has developed a very particular – not to say bizarre – shooting mechanics in order to avoid long arms and therefore blocks. For a long time, his name immediately referred to his heroine, whose footsteps he followed. Her number, 31, was her sister’s. But it was while shining with UCLA that he began to attract the attention of NBA recruiters and to make his own reputation.
Superstar of the prestigious Californian university, he was drafted in eleventh position in 1987… under the whistles of Pacers supporters. The latter preferred Steve Alford, originally from Indiana. A pure local product. Miller quickly won over his audience. By establishing itself as a holder in its second season (16 points per game) then by asserting itself as the first option of a solid team continuously candidate for the playoffs. He was even an All-Star in 1990, his third year in the NBA, with an average of 24 pawns.
When Reggie Miller scored 57 points in one game
Knicks Killer
Two years later, in 92, he slammed 57 points on the face of the Hornets. This is still a franchise record today. But it was especially in the playoffs that the frail scorer really made a name for himself. By making misery for the Knicks and showing ironclad composure in the hottest moments of the most tense games of the year. Like his 39 units spent at Madison Square Garden in Game 5 of the 1994 Conference Finals. With 25 points in the fourth quarter alone.
New York at the time was tough. Defensive. Brutal. Vicious. However, the slender player made his way between the colossi, without retreating, before ending up in the circle. Or he was swinging missiles from afar before taunting Spike Lee on the sidelines. The Pacers still lost in 7 innings that year.
The best was yet to come. 1995. Revenge. This time in the second round of the playoffs. The two teams meet again. There are 18.7 seconds left when the Knicks lead 105-99 in the series opener. Moment chosen by Reggie Miller to go down in history. In three actions, he shocked the Garden.
First with an express three-point basket. Then by stealing the balloon on the throw-in, all that to get behind the arc and send a new banderilla! Moments later, after a misfire Patrick Ewing, he converted the two free throws for the win. 107-105. 8 points in 9 seconds. Indiana won in 7 innings…before falling to Orlando in the next round.
The enemy of Michael Jordan
“I didn’t really hate anyone in particular in the NBA. But facing Reggie Miller was driving me crazy. It was like an argument with a woman. His whole game is based on the ‘flopping’. It weighs barely 84 kilos so you have to be careful not to touch it otherwise there is a fault.
In attack, I released him with my 98 kilos. But he kept putting his hands on me, like a woman holding you by the waist. I just wanted to smash his hands. It was driving me crazy. »
that is how Michael Jordan summarized his duels with Reggie Miller in the 90s. Because after having made misery at the Knicks, the native of Riverside rubbed shoulders with another legendary franchise. The Bulls. Always with the same particular style. The soft hits, the dives, the suicide missions in the racket and the bombs from afar. A player with 20 points or more during the regular season, he again raised his level of play during the playoffs. Especially when you had to face a monument like MJ.
“I remember at the beginning of my career, we were playing against Chicago and Mike was in lack of success that night. I looked at him and said ‘are you Michael Jordan?’ I only scored two points in the second half. And him much more. As he walked off the field at the end of the match, he told me ‘never talk like that to Black Jesus again.’
And from then on, I stopped calling him Michael Jordan. I called him Jordan or Black Jesus or the Black Cat. But I never called him Michael Jordan again. »
If MJ intimidated most NBA players, Miller had seen others. Since Cheryl, no opponent could scare her anymore. So he faced Jojo eye to eye. With less talent, of course, but a lot of determination. It was in 1998 that the two stars engaged in a fantastic duel on the front of the stage. Eastern Conference Finals. 2 innings to 1 for Chicago and 3 seconds left in Game 4. 94-93 for the Bulls. Throw-in for the Pacers.
Starting from the baseline, Reggie Miller rushes back behind the arc, jostling Jordan in the process, before receiving the swell, turning back to the circle in a split second and drawing. Bingo. Indiana Victory! Amazing !
“I knew Michael was going to change on me. So I pushed into him and lightly – lightly – pushed him a little bit to create some space for myself. The rest is history, ”says the Pacers evening hero.
The series still turned to the advantage of the Bulls, winners in a very tight Game 7. He did not beat Michael Jordan in the playoffs. But he didn’t go far.
First Finals and “Uncle Reg”
The Pacers were considered heavy favorites in the East when MJ retired. But they fell … against the Knicks, eighth in the Conference, in 1999. At the gates of the finals. With a disappointing performance from Miller in Game 6 (8 points to 3 out of 18). But decidedly not defeated, he returned the following year. This time supported by Jalen Rose.
The two star teammates carried the Indianapolis team to the end. Or almost. They eliminated New York before facing Los Angeles. The Lakers of Shaquille O’Neal et Kobe Bryant. Author of 24 points per game over all six games in the final, Reg was dominated by the young Kobe in certain key moments.
His luck has passed. But he continued to fuel his legend with some exceptional performances in the playoffs until 2005. Without tasting the flavor of the NBA finals again. He was then the mentor of Jermaine O’Neal, Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and others at the Pacers. And he had their respect. He was “Uncle Reg”. Proof of a certain admiration for him, O’Neal preferred to leave two minutes from the end of a game where he already had 55 points. History of not breaking the record of his teammate. Class.
For his last outing with the pros, Miller slammed 27 points in Game 6 of the Conference semi-finals lost to the Pistons in 2005. But today he remains the most emblematic player of the Pacers and one of the best shooters. all time. For a long time first in the number of three-pointers scored in his career, before being overtaken by Ray Allen.
A source of inspiration for weak players who are looking for a model of success. An NBA legend who hasn’t lowered his eyes to anyone, not even Michael Jordan.
What Reggie Miller would have answered Michael Jordan if he had wanted to recruit him
2023-08-03 10:01:24
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