Reggie Miller 's outstanding performances at UCLA attracted the attention of several NBA teams, including the Indiana Pacers. Eager to explore the possibility of drafting the talented shooting guard, the Pacers, led by team president Donnie Walsh at the time, arranged a standard Draft Process interview. However, as ‘Uncle Reg’ revealed in 2019, that meeting turned out to be quite different from what he had anticipated.
“I flew in, literally for two hours, walked into the Pacers’ office, shook Donnie Walsh’s hand. He asked me two questions, and I was on my way back to the airport. I said to myself, ‘There’s no way I’m coming to Indiana.’ It was barely an interview,” recounted Miller, per IndyStar.
The significance of draft interviews
Draft process interviews aim to evaluate how well a young player might fit into a team. These sessions focus less on athletic skills and more on personal traits off the court. Interviewers might ask thought-provoking or pressing questions, present hypothetical situations, or delve into the player’s personal experiences. The answers can uncover important qualities, including the player's mindset, work ethic, coachability, and teamwork ability.
Having laid out the significance of draft process interviews, one might wonder why Miller's meeting was still so brief. One possible reason is that the Pacers had already extensively looked into the UCLA product, consequently giving them plenty of confidence in their choice.
This rings true, as young Reggie, in addition to his outstanding skills, truly had a stellar background. Coming from a disciplined sports family, with all three siblings eventually turning pro athletes, he learned the ropes early on and continued to mature during his college years.
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From boos to cheers
Interestingly, ‘Uncle Reg’ thought he would be selected later than he was—specifically, 16th overall, a pick that belonged to the Philadelphia 76ers at that time. However, the Pacers surprised everyone by snatching the future Hall of Famer five spots earlier.
Many of their fans were initially frustrated by the decision to select Reggie over local favorite Steve Alford, leading to boos directed at team president Walsh. However, Miller praised that bold choice.
"Donnie Walsh played his hand well," the former 5-time All-Star noted. "He barely said three words to me, and I was a Pacer."
The 6’7’’ player quickly proved the decision right during his rookie season, where he continued his college success by sinking 61 three-pointers, setting a record for rookies at the time . This marked the beginning of one of the greatest shooting careers in NBA history, and by the time of his retirement in 2005, ‘Uncle Reg’ had become a franchise legend, with his number 31 retired soon after .
Related: "It was being on the biggest stage, and to me playing against the bullies on the block"- Reggie Miller on why he relished being the New York Knicks' villain
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