NBA ORLANDO—In some ways, it is still baffling that Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller is not yet in the Hall of Fame. He took a step toward achieving that on Friday, though, when he was named one of 12 finalists for enshrinement in Springfield, Mass.
Introduced among a handful of Hall of Fame inductees—including Dominique Wilkins, George Gervin, Chris Mullin and David Robinson—Miller said, “It’s great. I’ve played against a lot of these guys up here and I’ve watched a lot of them. … So, it’s wonderful to just even be mentioned with these guys.”
Also being considered are point guard Maurice Cheeks, forward Bernard King, center Ralph Sampson, forward Jamaal Wilkes, referee Hank Nichols, and coaches Rick Pitino, Don Nelson, Dick Motta and Bill Fitch. Katrina McClain, a two-time gold medalist for Team USA women’s basketball is also a candidate, as well as the All-American Red Heads, the first professional female basketball team. The announcement of the inductees will come during Final Four weekend in New Orleans, and enshrinement will take place on Sep. 7.
Miller scored 25,279 career points and was the league’s top 3-point shooter until last year, when Boston’s Ray Allen broke his record. He played all 18 years of his career with the Pacers, three of those with Mullin.
“Reggie Miller, man, what an incredible player,” Mullin told Sporting News. “I had the great fortune to play with him for three years, and those were three of the most professional teams I ever played on. You’re talking about a clutch, big-time performer on the big stage, a great teammate, one of the hardest workers I have even seen. He was everything to that city. What Peyton Manning is now, that’s what Reggie Miller is to Indianapolis.”
Also honored on Friday were “direct electees” Lidya Alexeeva (International committee); Mel Daniels, (ABA committee); Don Barksdale (Early African-American committee); Chet Walker (Veterans committee); and Nike founder Phil Knight (Contributors committee). Veteran writer Sam Smith and Portland broadcaster Bill Schonely were given the Curt Gowdy media awards.
Magic senior vice president Pat Williams was also given the John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award. He was the general manager of the Sixers when Cheeks was drafted, and called Cheeks, “the best all-around true point guard in the history of basketball.”
Scott Brooks, who coaches Oklahoma City, where Cheeks is an assistant, echoed Williams’ praise. “It’s actually surprising that he hasn’t been included in the Hall of Fame already,” Brooks told Sporting News. “I have known him since I was his rookie back in my rookie year in the late ‘80s in Philadelphia. I have known him for more than 20 years. He represents himself and the NBA and the game of basketball in the highest form that you can represent it.
"When he left the game, he was first in history in steals, fifth in assists, he has been a head coach twice, the team he played on in ’83 might be one of the best teams ever. Maurice is a great guy and I hope the voters look at him in the way I look at him.”
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