By Mark Montieth
[email protected]
October 2, 2003


When Reggie Miller met with the media Thursday, someone claimed the Indiana Pacers were making plans to erect a statue of him in or outside Conseco Fieldhouse.

Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh flatly denied that, claiming such honors are best reserved for dead people. But Miller's response was instructive just the same.

"I've done nothing for this organization that anybody else has done," he said. "If they're going to put a sculpture here, it should be of Roger Brown or Mel Daniels."

Miller clearly isn't ready to think of himself as a bronze artifact propping up pigeons. Although 38 years old, coming off the least productive season of his career since he was a rookie and recovering from off-season surgery on his right ankle, he's still got life in his legs and hunger in his heart.

Not to mention a chip on his shoulder.

"I still get butterflies," Miller said Thursday, as the Pacers veterans gathered at Conseco Fieldhouse for the photo sessions, autograph signings and interviews that marked the prelude to Friday's first full day of training camp.

"I'm very excited. You can only play basketball a certain number of years. If you lose that at an early age, something's wrong. It's the unexpected. That's what professional sports is all about. You never know what's going to happen. That's what drives me."

Miller has added motivation this season. Simply put, it's to prove he hasn't overstayed his welcome with the Pacers, as some fans have suggested.

It's easy to look at his numbers from last season and wonder. He averaged just 12.6 points during the regular season and 9.2 points on 28 percent shooting in the first-round playoff loss to Boston. That was a shocking development for a player who had averaged at least 19.9 points in his other 12 postseason appearances.

Miller refused to use his ankle as an excuse last season, despite the severe sprain he suffered during in an exhibition game in August 2002 while playing for the U.S. World Championship team. He did acknowledge Thursday, however, that he now believes he should have had his ankle surgery about this time a year ago, rather than waiting until after the season.

Miller had surgery on May 19 to remove bone spurs and repair cartilage damage. He wasn't able to go back to work in a serious way until the first week of September, when he returned to his routine of the past few summers: joining the members of Pepperdine University's team in their off-season program.

Miller doesn't just play pick-up games. He participates in their drills and conditioning program, too, everything from defensive slide drills to running stairs.

"He does the whole deal," said junior forward Glen McGowan.

Pepperdine is a logical place for Miller to work, since the campus is only a two-minute drive from his home in Malibu, Calif. But the workouts are an illogical thing for a 38-year-old NBA veteran to do.

Carlisle and assistant coach Mike Brown saw it for themselves on separate trips to Malibu last month.

"I was amazed a guy of his caliber would get up every day and do that type of stuff when he doesn't have to do it," Brown said.

Pacers forward Al Harrington and other NBA veterans such as Kevin Garnett, Chauncey Billups and Stephon Marbury joined the workouts at times. But Miller's presence is so steady and his effort and interest so great that he's become a de facto member of the Waves.

He has lunch with the players in the summer, keeps in touch with a few of them during the winter by phone and e-mail and provides Pacers practice gear for some members of the men's and women's teams.

Miller likes the collegiate atmosphere for reasons beyond the innocence, however.

"A lot of the pro guys call a lot of fouls," he said. "If you look at them wrong, they call a foul. The college guys can run all day and they're excited."

Pepperdine's players got over Miller's celebrity status long ago. They see him as part-buddy and part-tutor, someone who does what they do, but knows more than they know.

"He gives me a lot of advice," said Alex Acker, a guard who was his conference's Freshman of the Year last season. "Things like coming off screens, having your hands ready and how to be more aggressive."

Miller teaches by example, too.

"Work ethic," McGowan said. "Working hard not just when you feel like it but all the time. I think he's one of the hardest-working people in the game."

Miller is working to become a feared NBA player again, not an icon suitable for bronzing. Although he says he'll sit out parts of training camp as he works his way into game-ready condition, and won't play heavy minutes early in the season, he's not planning a Senior's Tour of the NBA.

"I can still contribute," he said.

Carlisle agrees. And if Pepperdine's players are starting to see Miller as one of their own, Carlisle isn't ready to give him up.

"It's late in his career, but you can never underestimate greatness," Carlisle said. "You can never underestimate a guy who's pulled off what he's pulled off over the years. Having a guy like that on your team is a great luxury."