History of Reggie Miller in Timeline

Reggie Miller, an American former professional basketball player, spent his entire 18-year NBA career with the Indiana Pacers. Celebrated as one of the NBA's premier shooters, he excelled at three-point shooting, especially in high-pressure moments, earning the moniker 'Knick Killer' due to his clutch performances against the New York Knicks. Miller was a five-time All-Star, a 2012 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

August 24, 1965: Reggie Miller's Birth

On August 24, 1965, Reginald Wayne Miller, later known as Reggie Miller, was born. He became a professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers.

1984: Sister's Olympic Gold

In 1984, Reggie Miller's older sister Cheryl was a member of the U.S. gold medal-winning Olympic basketball team, showcasing the athletic talent in the Miller family.

1984: NIT Championship

In the 1984-85 NCAA season, Reggie Miller helped the UCLA Bruins to an NIT championship, marking an early achievement in his college career.

1986: All-American Honors

In 1986, Reggie Miller earned third-team All-American honors as a junior while playing college basketball for the UCLA Bruins.

1986: All-Pac-10 Selection

In 1986, during Miller's senior season (1986-87), he was an All-Pac-10 selection for the second straight year. His achievements helped the Bruins secure a Pacific-10 regular-season championship and the first Pac-10 tournament championship.

1986: Three-Point Field Goal Introduction

In the 1986-87 season, the three-point field goal was added to college basketball, and Reggie Miller utilized it effectively, scoring 69 of his 247 field goals from beyond the arc that year.

January 24, 1987: Game-Winning Shot Against Notre Dame

On January 24, 1987, Reggie Miller hit a 24-foot shot with 10 seconds left in the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, securing a 62-59 lead for the Bruins.

February 28, 1987: Record-Breaking Performance Against Louisville

On February 28, 1987, Reggie Miller scored 33 points in the second half against defending national champion Louisville and Pervis Ellison, setting a school record.

1987: NBA Draft

In 1987, Reggie Miller was selected by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the NBA draft with the 11th overall pick, beginning his professional career.

1987: Drafted by the Pacers

In 1987, Reggie Miller was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 11th pick in the first round of the NBA draft, despite initial fan disapproval. He began his career wearing jersey number 31 and gradually established himself as a key player.

1987: Final College Game

In 1987, Reggie Miller's final game for UCLA was a loss in the second round of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament to Wyoming. He concluded his college career as the second all-time leading scorer at UCLA.

November 28, 1992: Career-High 57 Points

On November 28, 1992, Reggie Miller scored a career-high 57 points against the Charlotte Hornets, setting a Pacers NBA franchise record that still stands today. The final score was 134-122.

June 1, 1994: Phenomenal Game Against the Knicks

On June 1, 1994, Reggie Miller scored 39 points, including 25 in the fourth quarter, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. This performance, marked by long 3-pointers and an exchange with Spike Lee, led the Pacers to a 93-86 victory and a 3-2 series lead. However, the Pacers ultimately lost the series.

1994: FIBA World Championship Gold Medal

In 1994, Reggie Miller was a member of the US national team that won the FIBA World Championship, where he averaged 17.1 points and was the second-leading scorer behind Shaquille O'Neal.

May 7, 1995: 8.9 Seconds Game Winner

On May 7, 1995, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Knicks, Reggie Miller scored eight points in 8.9 seconds, including two 3-pointers and two free throws, to lead the Pacers to a 107-105 victory. He capitalized on missed free throws by John Starks and secured the win after stealing an inbound pass.

1996: Olympic Gold Medal

In 1996, Reggie Miller was a member of the Olympic men's basketball team that won a gold medal, averaging 11.4 points and starting in 5 of the 8 games.

1996: Eye Injury and Talk Show Hosting

Near the end of the 1996 NBA season, Reggie Miller suffered an eye injury that sidelined him for part of the playoffs. During this time, he also hosted a talk show on WTHR called "The Reggie Miller Show".

1997: Playoff Miss

After the 1997 NBA season, The Pacers missed the playoffs.

May 25, 1998: Game-Winning Shot Against Bulls

On May 25, 1998, in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Chicago Bulls, Reggie Miller hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds left, securing a 96-94 victory for the Pacers. He got free from Michael Jordan to make the shot.

1999: Eastern Conference Finals Loss

In 1999, with the Pacers considered favorites after Jordan's retirement, the eighth-seeded New York Knicks upset them in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the decisive Game 6, Reggie Miller had a poor performance, scoring only eight points.

May 6, 2000: 40-Point Game with Jalen Rose

On May 6, 2000, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers, Reggie Miller and teammate Jalen Rose each scored 40 points, becoming the highest-scoring teammate pair in playoff history, leading the Pacers to a 108-91 victory.

June 2, 2000: Eastern Conference Finals Victory

On June 2, 2000, Reggie Miller scored 34 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, to help the Indiana Pacers defeat the New York Knicks 93-80 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, securing their spot in the NBA Finals.

2002: Near Elimination of Nets

In 2002, Reggie Miller almost single-handedly eliminated the top-seeded New Jersey Nets in Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs, hitting a 40-foot three-pointer to force overtime and dunking over three defenders to force a second overtime. Ultimately, the Pacers lost 120-109.

2002: FIBA World Championship

In 2002, Reggie Miller returned to the USA Team for the FIBA World Championship. The team lost to FR Yugoslavia in the quarterfinals, marking the first time NBA players competed against international competition and lost. Miller was injured during the tournament and played limited minutes.

January 4, 2005: O'Neal's Respect for Miller

On January 4, 2005, Jermaine O'Neal scored 55 points against the Milwaukee Bucks and left the game with 1:43 remaining to preserve Reggie Miller's 57-point record, demonstrating his respect for Miller.

May 19, 2005: Final Game and Ovation

On May 19, 2005, Reggie Miller played his last game at Conseco Fieldhouse, leading the Pacers with 27 points in a loss to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. He received a standing ovation from the crowd and the Pistons players, marking the end of his career. This won the 2005 Best Moment ESPY Award.

June 2005: Becomes a weekly contributor to The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio

In June 2005, Reggie Miller became a weekly contributor to The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio, providing commentary.

August 2005: Joins TNT as NBA analyst

In August 2005, Reggie Miller announced his plans to join TNT as an NBA analyst, where his sister Cheryl also works as an NBA sideline reporter.

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2005: TNT NBA Analyst

In 2005, Reggie Miller joins TNT as an NBA analyst after retiring from professional basketball.

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2005: Indianapolis 500 Grand Marshal

In 2005, Reggie Miller served as the Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade Grand Marshal. He waved the green flag to start the race after a prayer for the drivers' safety and for Reggie by name.

2005: Rumors of Retirement

In 2005, Reggie Miller shot down rumors that he would retire at the end of the season, stating he would announce any such decision through his sister Cheryl. On February 10, Cheryl reported that Reggie had told her the previous day that he would indeed retire.

March 30, 2006: Number 31 Retired

On March 30, 2006, Reggie Miller's number 31 was retired at halftime during a ceremony at Conseco Fieldhouse.

2006: Jersey Retirement

In 2006, the Indiana Pacers retired Reggie Miller's No. 31 jersey, honoring his contributions to the team.

August 8, 2007: Celtics discuss signing Miller

On August 8, 2007, the Boston Celtics' general manager and head coach discussed the possibility of Reggie Miller joining their roster in a reserve role.

August 24, 2007: Miller decides against comeback

On August 24, 2007, his 42nd birthday, Reggie Miller decided against making an NBA comeback, citing that he was "all out" mentally despite feeling physically capable.

December 2009: Special Premiere Movie event announced

In December 2009, Reggie Miller announced that there would be a Special Premiere Movie event on Friday, Feb 26, at Conseco Fieldhouse for his documentary.

2009: UCLA Records

As of 2009, Reggie Miller still held the UCLA single-season records for the most league points, the highest league scoring average, and the most free throws.