OT Why Reggie Miller didn't come out of retirement to chase title

[SlyPokerDog]

Pacers legend Reggie Miller joined the Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday to talk all things NBA Playoffs — along with a discussion about what could have been when Miller's days with Indiana were done.

The Hall of Famer had been retired for two seasons when he got a call from Celtics president Danny Ainge with an offer to come play in Boston. Miller turned it down.

Why?

At the time, he said it was because life on the road would've been too difficult. Later, he said there wouldn't have been enough time to get into shape.

But he admitted to Patrick that there was a sense of loyalty there, too. The 2008 Celtics went on to win an NBA title.



"If you knew that they were going to win a championship," Patrick asked, "Would you have come back to play?"

"I couldn't do it, because of all the tears I shed in Indiana, with that fan base," Miller said. "We cried together on all those hurtful Knicks losses, Bulls losses, Lakers losses in the finals. It wouldn't be fair for me to be on a podium or a stage poppin' (bubbly) because I won my one championship. In Indiana, we grew up together, we had the heartaches together. I can't be sipping champagne and getting a ring (when) I didn't do it for y'all. That's just my mentality. That's my thinking. I'm not saying it's right. People on Twitter will go crazy that I didn't win a championship. OK, I'm cool with that. But at least I went down swinging and fighting. That's what I'm more proud of."

https://www.indystar.com/story/spor.../9560044002/?itm_source=AMP&itm_medium=UpNext

 

[Pinwheel1]

I have way more respect for that than any of the ring chasers.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Reggie has become a very good commentator on the games, along with the Great Kevin Harlan...
I have been really surprised with Richard Jefferson on ESPN as well..He good too.
But, alas, I digress.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

At the time, Reggie said the reason was because he didn’t have it in him mentally.

 

[MickZagger]

Reggie didn’t age too well in the NBA and hung it up at an appropriate time

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Reggie didn’t age too well in the NBA and hung it up at an appropriate time

I don't know. In his 17th and final season, he averaged 14.8 mpg, starting 66 games, and shooting a career best 93.3% from the FT line on 4 attempts per game. Most players age worse than that. On another note- Reggie Miller played all 82 games in 5 of his first 6 seasons. He had another 6 seasons of at least 80 games. You heard me right. 11 total seasons of at least 80 games. Players were so much tougher back then.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Reggie didn’t age too well in the NBA and hung it up at an appropriate time

Indy should have traded him while his value was high.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Reggie didn’t age too well in the NBA and hung it up at an appropriate time

I agree he hung it up at the correct time but strongly disagree that he did not age well. He was 39 his last season and played 30 minutes per game. It is unrealistic to expect someone to play that many minutes at that age and be efficient.