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Reggie Miller is widely recognized as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. In his 18-year career, Miller played solely for the Indiana Pacers, making him one of seven NBA players to spend an entire career of 18 or more seasons with a single franchise. Miller's talent was particularly notable in pressure situations and against the New York Knicks, earning him the nickname Knick Killer. Miller's clutch play and precision three-point shooting made him a feared opponent, and his performance in the 1994 playoffs propelled him to superstardom.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Reginald Wayne Miller |
| Date of Birth | 24 August 1965 |
| Birthplace | Riverside, California |
| Career | Former professional basketball player |
| Career Duration | 18 years |
| Team | Indiana Pacers |
| Position | Off guard |
| Noted For | Precision three-point shooting |
| Achievements | Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team; 5-time All-Star selection; inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; member of two gold medal-winning teams; ranked 47th greatest player in NBA history by The Athletic |
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Career achievements
Reggie Miller is widely recognised as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. He played his entire 18-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Indiana Pacers, making him one of seven NBA players to spend an entire career of 18 or more seasons with a single franchise. Miller was a five-time All-Star selection and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. He was also named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, ranked by The Athletic as the 47th greatest player in NBA history.
Miller was the first Indiana Pacer to start in an NBA All-Star Game, doing so in 1995. He was also selected to the team in 1990, 1996, 1998, and 2000. He made the All-NBA Third Team three times throughout his career and received his only MVP votes in 1998 and 2000. Miller led the league twice in three-point field goals made (1992–93, 1996–97) and made a three-pointer in 68 consecutive games from November 15, 1996, to April 6, 1997. He led the league in free throw percentage five times (1990–91, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2004–05). Miller is one of only nine members in the 50–40–90 club of players who shot 50% or better from the field, 40% or better from three-point range, and 90% or better from the free-throw line in a single season.
Miller is best known for his precision three-point shooting, especially in pressure situations and most notably against the New York Knicks, for which he earned the nickname "Knick Killer". Much of his legend was made during his playoff matchups with the Knicks in the 1990s, including a game-winning three-pointer with 0.7 seconds to go in Game 4 of the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. Miller ranks second all-time in 30-point playoff games against the Knicks, with nine, trailing only Michael Jordan, with 15.
Miller was a member of two gold medal-winning teams: the US national team for the 1994 FIBA World Championship and the Olympic men's basketball team in 1996. He averaged 17.1 points, 52.6% shooting, and was 19 for 20 from free throws in the 1994 tournament, where he was the second-leading scorer behind Shaquille O'Neal.
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Awards and honours
Reggie Miller, widely recognised as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, has received numerous awards and honours throughout his career. Miller played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, earning third-team All-American honours as a junior in 1986. He was a three-time winner of the Coach John Wooden Award, presented to the team's most valuable player. As a sophomore, he led the Bruins to the NIT Championship and was named the NIT's Most Outstanding Player. He also led the Bruins to the 1987 Pac-10 crown and concluded his career as UCLA's second-leading career scorer with 2,095 points.
Miller was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 11th pick in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft. He played his entire 18-year career with the Pacers, becoming the team's all-time leading scorer with over 17,400 career points while averaging 19.7 points per game. Miller is one of only nine players to join the 50–40–90 club and has made 2,560 3-pointers in his career, which was an NBA record at the time of his retirement. He led the league in free throw percentage five times and ranks second all-time in 30-point playoff games against the New York Knicks, with nine. Miller's number 31 jersey was retired by the Pacers in 2006, and he was inducted into the Pac-12 Conference Hall of Honor in 2010.
In addition to his NBA achievements, Miller was a member of two gold medal-winning teams: the US national team for the 1994 FIBA World Championship and the Olympic men's basketball team in 1996. He also received the 2005 Best Moment ESPY Award for his final game, in which he led the Pacers with 27 points and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Miller was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, honouring him as one of the league's greatest players of all time. He has also ventured into broadcasting, working as a TV analyst for TNT, CBS Sports, and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship tournament.
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Clutch performances
Reggie Miller, widely recognised as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, is known for his precision three-point shooting, especially in pressure situations. Miller played 18 seasons in the NBA, all with the Pacers, making five All-Star teams and three All-NBA third teams. He is second all-time in regular-season 3-pointers and first in postseason 3-pointers. Miller was always relied on to take the Pacers' biggest shot in crunch time.
Miller's performance against the Knicks in the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals is one of his most notable clutch performances. He scored eight points in nine seconds to beat the Knicks, 107-105, in a delirious opening game to the series. This moment was so significant that it inspired an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary about Miller, titled "Winning Time".
Another clutch performance by Miller came in the 2002 playoffs against an ageing New York squad. In Game 4, with the Pacers down by three points and under 10 seconds remaining, Miller was left surprisingly open and made a three-point shot to tie the game and send it to overtime. The Pacers ultimately won that game and the series, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In the final nine seasons of his career, Miller made 142 three-pointers in crunch time, 54 more than the next closest player in that time period. This statistic further emphasises his reputation as one of the most clutch players in NBA history.
Miller's clutch performances and overall excellence as a shooter earned him induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. He was also named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, honouring him as one of the league's greatest players of all time.
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Rivalries
Reggie Miller is widely recognised as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. Miller's career spanned an exciting era of modern basketball, with contemporaries like Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, and John Stockton. Miller's clutch scoring and dramatic style of play earned him a reputation as a "Knick Killer", particularly during his playoff matchups with the New York Knicks in the 1990s.
Miller's rivalry with the Knicks was intense and volatile, with Miller relishing the role of the villain. He famously exchanged banter with Spike Lee, bowed mockingly to the crowd, and even headbutted a player. Miller's performances against the Knicks included some of the most spectacular playoff series in NBA history, including a shocking come-from-behind playoff win where he scored eight points in the final 16 seconds. Miller ranks second all-time in 30-point playoff games against the Knicks, with nine, trailing only Michael Jordan, with 15.
Miller's rivalry with the Knicks was not just limited to the players. He loved hearing the boos from the crowd and being the enemy, as evidenced by the title of his 1999 autobiography, "I Love Being the Enemy". Miller's clutch scoring and dramatic style of play made him a feared and despised opponent, with Ewing, his longtime rival, admitting that he wanted to "smack him" when playing against him.
Miller's rivalry with the Knicks was not his only competition. He also had a portentous start to his athletic career, born with a hip deformity that required leg braces until he was four years old. Doctors questioned if he would ever walk unassisted, but Miller proved them wrong and went on to become one of the greatest players in NBA history.
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Post-retirement
Reggie Miller, widely recognised as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, retired in 2005 after an 18-year career with the Indiana Pacers.
In August 2005, Miller announced he would be joining TNT as an NBA analyst, and he currently hosts on TNT's NBA coverage and answers "Reggie's Mailbag". Miller has also worked as a TV analyst for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship tournament since 2011.
Miller's career with the Pacers included five All-Star appearances, 131 playoff games, and an appearance in the 2000 NBA Finals. He was also a member of two gold medal-winning teams: the US national team for the 1994 FIBA World Championship and the Olympic men's basketball team in 1996.
Miller's number 31 was retired in a ceremony on 30 March 2006, at Conseco Fieldhouse. In 2012, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Miller currently splits his time between residences in Malibu, California, and Fishers, Indiana.
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Frequently asked questions
Reggie Miller was ranked 47th in The Athletic's rankings of the top 75 players of all time.
Miller is widely recognised as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. He is one of only nine players to join the 50-40-90 club and has made 2,560 3-pointers in his career. He was also a five-time All-Star selection and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Miller's most famous moments include his clutch performances against the New York Knicks, where he ranks second all-time in 30-point playoff games, only trailing Michael Jordan. Miller's defining moment as a clutch performer came in Game 1 of the conference semifinals in New York, where he scored eight points in the final 8.9 seconds to lead the Pacers to a stunning comeback victory.
