Reggie Miller facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids
Reggie Miller

Miller in 2010

Personal information

Born

August 24, 1965 (age 59)
Riverside, California, U.S.

High school

Riverside Polytechnic
(Riverside, California)

Listed height

6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)

Listed weight

195 lb (88 kg)

Career information

College

UCLA (1983–1987)

NBA Draft

1987 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11th overall

Selected by the Indiana Pacers

Pro career

1987–2005

Career history

1987–2005

Indiana Pacers

Career highlights and awards

5× NBA All-Star (1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000)
3× All-NBA Third Team (1995, 1996, 1998)
NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021)
50–40–90 club (1994)
No. 31 retired by Indiana Pacers
Third-team All-American – UPI (1986)
2× First-team All-Pac-10 (1986, 1987)
NIT MVP (1985)
No. 31 retired by UCLA Bruins
USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2002)

Career NBA statistics

Points

25,279 (18.2 ppg)

Rebounds

4,182 (3.0 rpg)

Assists

4,141 (3.0 apg)

Medals

Men's basketball

Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Gold	1996 Atlanta	Men's basketball
FIBA World Championship
Gold	1994 Canada	Men's basketball

Reggie Miller (born August 24, 1965) is a famous American former professional basketball player. He played his entire 18-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Indiana Pacers.

Reggie is known as one of the best shooters in NBA history. He was especially good at making three-point shots when the game was on the line. He often played his best against the New York Knicks, which earned him the nickname "Knick Killer".

He was chosen as an All-Star five times. In 2012, Reggie Miller was added to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was also named to the special NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

Miller played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. He was picked by the Indiana Pacers in the 1987 NBA draft. When he stopped playing, he held the NBA record for most career three-point shots made. He also won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics. The Pacers retired his jersey number 31 in 2006. Many people think Reggie Miller is the greatest player in Pacers history. After retiring, he became a basketball commentator for TV.

Early Life and Family
College Career at UCLA
NBA Career Highlights
Reggie Miller's Achievements
Off the Court
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Family

Reggie Miller was born in Riverside, California. He went to Riverside Polytechnic High School. When he was born, he had hip problems that made it hard for him to walk. He wore braces on his legs for several years. This helped his legs get strong enough to walk properly.

Reggie comes from a very athletic family. He has four siblings. His brother Darrell played Major League Baseball. His sister Tammy played college volleyball. His older sister Cheryl is also a famous basketball player. She is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Cheryl won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team in 1984.

Reggie often tells stories about how Cheryl used to beat him in one-on-one basketball games. He says they stopped playing when he finally got tall enough to block her shots. Reggie also says his unique shooting style came from trying to shoot over his sister's constant blocks.

College Career at UCLA

Miller with the ball against Washington State University, 1985

Reggie Miller went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He studied history there. In 1985, he helped the UCLA Bruins win the NIT championship. In his last year, 1987, he was chosen for the All-Pac-10 team. He led the Bruins to win their conference championship.

The three-point field goal was added to college basketball in 1986. Reggie used it well, making 69 three-pointers that season. One of his most memorable college games was in 1987. He hit a 24-foot shot to win the game against Notre Dame. He also scored 33 points in one half against Louisville. This is still a school record.

Reggie finished his college career as the second-highest scorer in UCLA history. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored more points. UCLA retired his number 31 jersey in 2013.

NBA Career Highlights

Starting Out (1987–1993)

The Indiana Pacers picked Reggie Miller as the 11th player in the 1987 NBA draft. Some fans were not happy at first. They wanted the Pacers to pick a local player. But Reggie quickly showed how good he was. He helped the Pacers become a team that regularly made the playoffs.

In 1992, Reggie became the main scorer for the Pacers. On November 28, 1992, he scored a career-high 57 points against the Charlotte Hornets. This amazing game is still the Pacers' record for most points in an NBA game.

Becoming a Star (1993–2000)

Reggie Miller became very famous during the 1994 playoffs. The Pacers were playing the New York Knicks. In one game, Reggie scored 39 points, with 25 of them in the final quarter. He made many long three-pointers. He even had a lively chat with famous Knicks fan Spike Lee, who was sitting courtside. The Pacers won that game, but lost the series.

"Eight Points in Nine Seconds"

One of Reggie's most famous moments happened on May 7, 1995. It was Game 1 of the playoffs against the New York Knicks. The Pacers were losing by six points with only 18.7 seconds left. Reggie scored eight points in just 8.9 seconds!

First, he made a three-pointer. Then, he stole the ball from the Knicks. He dribbled back and made another three-pointer to tie the game. The crowd at Madison Square Garden was shocked! The Knicks missed their free throws. Reggie got the rebound and was fouled. He made both free throws, giving the Pacers a two-point lead. The Pacers won the game 107–105. This incredible comeback is one of the most memorable moments in NBA history.

Miller's public feud with film director Spike Lee generated controversy for several years in the NBA playoffs.

The Pacers beat the Knicks in that series. But they lost in the next round. In 1998, the Pacers faced Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals. In Game 4, Reggie made a game-winning three-pointer with less than a second left. The Pacers pushed the series to a Game 7, but the Bulls won.

In 2000, Reggie and the Pacers finally reached the NBA Finals. It was the first time in the team's history. They played against the Los Angeles Lakers with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Pacers lost the series 4-2. Reggie averaged 24.3 points per game in the Finals.

Later Career and Retirement (2000–2005)

Miller warms up before a game in 2003

Even as he got older, Reggie Miller was still a key player. In 2002, he almost single-handedly won a playoff game against the New Jersey Nets. He made a 40-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to overtime. Then he dunked to send it to a second overtime! Even though the Pacers lost, Reggie showed his amazing ability to perform under pressure.

In his final season, 2005, Reggie was still playing great. He scored 39 points in a game at age 39. He announced his retirement in February 2005.

Miller, before waving the green flag at the 2005 Indianapolis 500, days after his final game with the Pacers

Reggie Miller's last game was on May 19, 2005. The Pacers lost to the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs. Reggie led his team with 27 points in that game. When he left the court for the last time, the crowd gave him a long standing ovation. Even the opposing team's players joined in to honor him. It was a very special moment.

Over his 18-year career, Reggie Miller played 1,389 games for the Pacers. He is one of only a few NBA players who spent their entire career with one team. He retired as the NBA's all-time leader in three-pointers made. He is still considered one of the greatest shooters ever.

Reggie Miller's Achievements

Reggie Miller played more games with one team than almost anyone else in NBA history.
He scored 25,279 points in his career.
He was chosen for the All-NBA Third Team three times.
Reggie was the first Indiana Pacer to start in an NBA All-Star Game. He was an All-Star five times.
He led the league in free throw percentage five times.
Reggie is one of only nine players to join the 50–40–90 club. This means he 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.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
He was named to the special NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

Off the Court

Reggie Miller
Miller working an NBA on TNT telecast with Mike Fratello (left) and Marv Albert (right).
Years active	2005–present
Sports commentary career
Genre(s)	color commentator
Sports	NBA, NCAA men's basketball

After retiring from playing, Reggie Miller became an NBA analyst for TNT. His sister, Cheryl, also works as a sideline reporter for the same network. Reggie also sometimes hosts TV shows and answers fan questions.

His jersey number 31 was officially retired by the Indiana Pacers in a special ceremony in 2006.

In 2010, a documentary film about Reggie Miller was released. It was called Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks. It focused on his famous rivalry with the Knicks.

Reggie has also done voice acting for the Disney TV show Hercules. He appeared in the movie Uncle Drew in 2018. He also appeared on the TV show Hell's Kitchen.

Miller with Ray Allen and Steph Curry, recognized as three of the greatest shooters in NBA history

Images for kids

Miller in 2010
Miller with the ball against Washington State University, 1985
Miller's public feud with film director Spike Lee generated controversy for several years in the NBA playoffs.
Miller (right) taking a shot during Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Finals.
Miller warms up before a game in 2003
Miller, before waving the green flag at the 2005 Indianapolis 500, days after his final game with the Pacers
Miller working an NBA on TNT telecast with Mike Fratello (left) and Marv Albert (right).
Miller with Ray Allen and Steph Curry, recognized as three of the greatest shooters in NBA history