The player once known as the “Knick Killer” because of his legendary playoff moments for the Indiana Pacers against the New York Knicks, is now bullish on the future of the team he tormented in the 1990s.
Reggie Miller told USA TODAY Sports that “the Knicks won and are winning the offseason.”
Miller cited the team’s chemistry, including uniting four Villanova teammates and re-signing OG Anunoby, as the primary sources of optimism for the team and its fans. The iconic sharpshooter — who once scored eight points in nine seconds to beat New York in a 1995 playoff game — does warn against minimizing the loss of Isaiah Hartenstein, who signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Still, Miller is so confident in the quality of New York’s recent transactions he gave the team an “A++++’ grade for its offseason.
Like the Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers have also made headlines; especially in the past month, with Los Angeles drafting Bronny James with the 55th overall pick.
“It will take some time,” Miller said about James, who has posted modest numbers in the Las Vegas Summer League.
But Miller doesn’t place too much importance on James’ recent outings.
“People, it’s Summer League,” said Miller, a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. “No one cares. Those numbers won’t translate to the fall. It’s all about experience in the summer.”
Miller also suggested that fans “pause on the Bronny hate and appreciate what we are witnessing, like we appreciated the Griffeys. I think it is one of the coolest things ever.”
Another recent NBA storyline involves the league’s media rights deals, which may spell the end of the beloved “Inside the NBA” program.
“They are such pop culture,” Miller said of TNT cohorts Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson. “They transcend what basketball really is.”
And while the deals aren’t yet official, Miller expressed to USA TODAY Sports how he’d feel should his network lose its rights to broadcast games.
“I would absolutely be sad and distraught if next year is our last year,” Miller said.
“I’ve only known two things in my life; 18 years with the Pacers and I have been with Turner (for) the last 19. So, for 40 years, I have known two things – two companies. So, for one of them to be going away – I hope it’s not the case. But if it is, hopefully another door will open down the ways. That’s how I look at it. I can’t dwell on it.”
During his conversation with Mackenzie Salmon, host of USA TODAY Sports’ ‘Sports Seriously,’ Miller also shared his all-time starting five.
The squad consists of Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan in the backcourt, Larry Bird and Hakeem Olajuwon in the frontcourt, and Shaquille O’Neal edging out Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at center. Miller chose Shaq despite admitting that O’Neal “beat the living daylights out of me” while winning the 2000 NBA title.
