Reggie Miller

Reginald Wayne Miller was born on August 24, 1965, in Riverside, California. His early life presented a challenge; he was born with hip deformities that initially affected his ability to walk correctly. Through consistent effort and wearing braces, his leg strength improved significantly. He attended Riverside Polytechnic High School and later the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned a degree in history. During his college career at UCLA from 1983 to 1987, Miller made notable contributions, including helping the Bruins secure an NIT championship in the 1984–85 season and leading them to a Pacific-10 regular-season and tournament championship in his senior year. He was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection and became an All-American in 1986. Miller finished his collegiate career as UCLA’s second all-time leading scorer, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His No. 31 jersey was retired by UCLA in 2013, and he was inducted into the Pac-12 Conference Hall of Honor in 2010.

Miller was drafted by the Indiana Pacers as the 11th overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, where he dedicated his entire 18-year professional career. He quickly established himself as a primary scoring threat, renowned for his accurate three-point shooting, especially in high-pressure situations, earning him the nickname “Knick Killer.” Early career milestones include scoring a career-high 57 points against the Charlotte Hornets in 1992, which remains the Pacers’ single-game NBA scoring record. His mid-career was marked by legendary playoff performances, particularly against the New York Knicks, such as his “eight points in nine seconds” in the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Miller was a five-time NBA All-Star (1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000) and was selected to the All-NBA Third Team three times (1995, 1996, 1998). He led the league in free throw percentage five times and held the NBA record for most career three-point field goals made at the time of his retirement. He also earned gold medals with the U.S. national team at the 1994 FIBA World Championship and the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Miller led the Pacers to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance in 2000. Following his retirement in 2005, his No. 31 jersey was retired by the Pacers in 2006. He transitioned into a successful career as an NBA commentator for TNT and a college basketball analyst for CBS Sports, providing insightful commentary. Miller was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. He will join NBC as a game analyst for its NBA coverage beginning in the 2025–26 season, continuing his impact on the sport across multiple platforms.