Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller grew up with a massive chip on his shoulder. Not only was he born into a family of athletes, but Reggie also took up a sport where his older sister was the best female ever to play the game.
Since Cheryl Miller was the best women's basketball player ever, Reggie lost every one-on-one game they played in the Miller backyard. And because Uncle Reg could not even beat her, she didn't think that little bro would go that far in the sport. He proved her wrong, though.
"I didn't realize how serious and what a student of the game Reggie was," admitted Cheryl during her appearance on The Mark Jackson Show. "How he was fine-tuning and honing his skill."
Reggie worked on his game until he became good enough
According to Cheryl, Reg was the runt in the family. Not only was he tinier than his siblings, but young Reggie also had pronated knees and had to wear a cast. Because he was seen as small and fragile, Miller often got picked on in the family.
But despite his physical appearance, Cheryl said that the sharpshooter was super competitive and always hated to lose. Although Reggie never beat his sister in their one-on-one games at home, he worked very hard on his game until he became good enough to play and then star at UCLA.
"By the time senior year rolled around, I knew he was good," added Cheryl. "I thought he could be serviceable in the NBA. I never dreamed that he would be that assassin-like ball player and with that killer instinct."
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One of the greatest big-game players in NBA history
Reggie was drafted 10th overall by the Indiana Pacers during the 1987 NBA Draft. The UCLA product would become one of the most prolific three-point shooters in NBA history and retire as the league's all-time three-point leader. Not only was he known for his silky smooth touch from the outside, but Uncle Reg was also one of the greatest clutch players of all time.
In Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals, Miller scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds to steal victory from the New York Knicks. That game established Reggie's reputation as a big-game player and that the Pacers always had a chance to win if there was still time and Reg was on the floor.
If there was one thing Reggie's career lacked, it was that NBA title. Looking back, however, the former Bruin accomplished more than everyone, including Cheryl, expected.
Related: "I just wasn't being Reggie, enough was enough" - Reggie Miller was thankful Pacers teammates gave him a wakeup call in 1992
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