Oct 19, 2008 - 04:05:15 CDT
Hoop dreams don't usually come true in South Dakota, at least not the NBA variety. But Mike Miller found a way to make his a reality. Now entering his eighth season, Miller has developed into the best basketball player ever to come out of the Dakotas.So for Miller, this exhibition between his Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets is something of a homecoming.
"It should be fun, being so close to home," the native of Mitchell, S.D., said. "I'll have some friends in the crowd. ... It's good for people who maybe wouldn't otherwise get to an NBA game see it up close and personal."
According to the Web site basketball-reference.com, just four North Dakota natives have played in the NBA, and Miller is one of five South Dakota natives.
The other top players to come from the Dakotas - Williston's Phil Jackson and Rapid City's Eric Piatkowski - were born in Montana and Ohio, respectively.
Miller is by far the most prolific scorer to hail from the region, with 8,140 career points and a 14.4 career average. He also has the highest averages in rebounds (4.8) and assists (3.0).
Miller said it wasn't until big-time basketball powers started recruiting him that he began thinking that the NBA could be in his future.
"My senior year in high school when I had a choice of major colleges, I began thinking about it," Miller said.
In his two seasons at the University of Florida, Miller helped take Gator basketball to another level. His sophomore year he was an honorable mention All-American pick and led Florida to the national championship game.
He was taken by the Orlando Magic with the fifth pick in the 2000 NBA draft. Even though Miller went on to win the rookie of the year award, he said jumping to the NBA was a major adjustment.
"Ever player from 1 to 15 on every team was a star in college," he said. "The speed, the athleticism and the talent level is just incredible."
Miller spent a little over two seasons in Orland before being dealt to Memphis, where he spent the last five-plus years.
Among Miller's coaches last season with the Grizzlies is former Dakota Wizards coach Dave Joerger.
"He's my man," Miller said. "He has a chance to be a special coach, a great chance to be a head coach in this league. He is fun to play for and his knowledge of the game is great."
Miller was traded to the Timberwolves this offseason along with rookie Kevin Love for O.J. Mayo.
"We saw it as getting two good players for the price of one," Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman said. "For us, Mike was a really great fit with his ability to shoot. That should really open things up for Al (Jefferson) down low. Last year he was getting double- and triple-teamed because we weren't a good perimeter shooting team.
Wittman said he is counting on Miller to help Minnesota's young players develop.
"Last year we didn't have a leader to guide and direct the young guys through the ups and downs of an 82-game season. We're anticipating Mike can help do that."
Miller said he is eager to meet that challenge.
"We're excited,"he said. "We've got a lot of new faces, and there's going to be some bumps in the road early.
"... We have the chance to contend for a playoff spot, but it's going to be up to us,"h added. "There's enough talent and potential for us to be good."
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