I’m Pacers legend and Michael Jordan rival who ‘choked’ Spike Lee and became New York Knicks super villain
Reggie Miller is a man of many faces.
NBA Hall of Famer, 3-point specialist, Michael Jordan rival and TV commentator.
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Reggie Miller was a nightmare for Knicks fansCredit: GettyBut for New York Knicks fans, one of the best shooters in basketball history will always be associated with two things.
Spike Lee and The Choke.
“He broke the Knicks’ spirit,” one fan tweeted. “This made me hate @ReggieMillerTNT for years. Respected his talent, just couldn’t stand him as a player.
“Now I love him on @NBAonTNT. Times change. People grow up.”
READ MORE ON NBAThe Pacers and Knicks will renew their once-bitter rivalry in the Eastern Conference finals, with both teams battling for a spot in the NBA Finals.
Game 1 is Wednesday at world famous Madison Square Garden, with the cheapest ticket on the secondary market costing $470.
In 2025, an ‘overrated’ Tyrese Haliburton will represent the Pacers, while a workaholic Jalen Brunson is the new face of the Knicks.
In 1995, Miller went viral — before social media existed — by stunning New York.
The Knicks led 105-99, then Miller hit a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left in the game.
Next, he stole an inbounds pass and drained another 3.
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Miller and Spike Lee went at itCredit: youtube@Indiana Pacers
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Miller let Lee know who won and who chokedCredit: youtube@Indiana Pacers
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All Lee could do was watch his Knicks loseCredit: youtube@Indiana PacersAfter New York missed two free throws and a shot, with John Starks and Patrick Ewing both misfiring, Miller sank two huge free throws for an unbelievable 107-105 win.
“John Starks choked and we came up big,” Miller said on TV after winning Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semfinals.
But his biggest choke moment arrived a year earlier, when Miller turned a 70-58 fourth-quarter deficit into a surreal victory.
He scored 25 points in the final period and finished off the barrage by taunting movie director and Knicks superfan Spike Lee by making a choking signal.
“I was only 175, 180 pounds, so I wasn’t the biggest or strongest guy,” Miller said.
“I needed to have a little bit of an edge — my mouth was my edge.”
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Reggie Miller reveals the time he trash talked Michael Jordan before humbling apology to NBA legend
New York won the next two games to advance to the NBA Finals, ultimately falling short despite being one of the toughest teams in NBA history.
But Miller’s uncanny ability to unearth unbelievable playoff victories against the Knicks became the stuff of NBA legend — and New York nightmares.
“You talk about out of body experiences,” Miller said.
“I’m either going to shoot my way in or I’m going to shoot us out.”
NBA fans are still blown away by what Miller was able to accomplish, and how quickly he did it.
“Legendary, bro,” one fan posted.
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Miller enjoyed his time in the New York spotlightCredit: youtube@Indiana Pacers”I was blessed to witness this era in basketball. Nothing was boring, competition was fierce, the entertainment in sports made you hungry to watch every second to its entirety.
“You were literally watching movies back then. Nothing was faked or suspect, at least for content. … Thank you (19)80s-90s NBA!”
Miller averaged 18.2 points while shooting 39.5 percent on 3s during his 18-year career.
The lifelong Pacer entered the Hall of Fame in 2012.
He was a five-time All-Star and selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team after being the No. 11 overall pick of the 1987 Draft out of UCLA.
But for all of Miller’s accomplishments against the Knicks, there was one nemesis he struggled to top.
Read More on talkSPORTThe GOAT.
“He ended up with 44 (points) and I ended up with 12, so he outscored me 40 to two (in the second half),” said Miller, recalling an embarrassing moment after he tried to trash-talk Air Jordan.
