Saturday, September 8th, 2012 at 1:18 pm  |  105 responses

Reggie Miller’s Hall Of Fame Speech (VIDEO)

Admits he pushed off on Greg Anthony and Michael Jordan.

Universally loved and despised by basketball fans and players alike, Reggie Miller closed Friday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremonies with a funny, touching tribute. Reggie let MJ and Greg Anthony know he indeed pushed off in two of the more memorable moments in NBA Playoff history; said he was excited to be inducted with “Silk” Wilkes, who had a similarly awkward shot; reminisced on playing pick-up against Magic at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion; and recounted how large of an influence his sister, Cheryl, had on his career.

Well done, Reggie.

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  • Dagger

    If we expand that to those West played against – not just guarded – we can also mention a couple guys called Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, along with so many others. Or the guys who came right after West, like Dr. J and Kareem. The players of the past, on average, aren’t the athletes of today, but don’t discount them as overall basketball players. Or as athletes: in skill or athleticism I’ll take Wilt over Howard any day.

  • The Philosopher

    So… then, what was his reputation?
    Everything that I’ve been lamenting about? And everything the selection comittee is lamenting about, when concerning him?
    Or, something else?

  • Caboose

    His reputation is that when the game was important, he went out and scored 40, willing his team to victory. That never happened in a close out game. Basically, his (rather unfounded and media-driven) reputation carried him into the hall. If the media liked Mike Bibby a bit more, they could have built the same image. Cause Bibby put up similar stats and was definitely a solid clutch player.

  • The Philosopher

    Not discrediting them, which I’ve already expressed. Just saying that Reggie’s era was better.
    And I’m sure you know that Reggie’s era was better.
    But again, Jerry played against some guys who were ahead of their time.

  • Caboose

    I’ll grant Reggie’s era was better. But I know you recognize the logical fallacy of using such an inconsequential fact to prove that Reggie was better. Heck, I just looked through my top SG’s list, I think Reggie is well outside the top 10.

  • shutup

    We definitely weren’t watching the same Rik Smits. When healthy he was a problem for everyone. 7’5″ with a deadly jumper, saw him especially give Ewing problems when they went head to head.

  • The Philosopher

    Oh, I agree with the pedigree of Smits. Again, he was decent. Had potential to be an all time center.
    But it didn’t happen.

  • Caboose

    Nice edit, trying to make yourself not look wrong. Own up to your mistakes.

  • The Philosopher

    So, consistently going out and scoring 40 on call, willing his team to victory as the lone HOF player, when the game is important, is not worthy of the call to the Hall?
    And, how many players score 40 in a closeout game? It happens, but how often?
    Again, not saying Reggie Miller is the G.O.A.T., but that he is a legit Hall of Fame player.

  • The Philosopher

    Yes, sir…
    I messed up.
    I mess up frequently up here. You know that. lol

  • Caboose

    I’m done. You’ve yet to provide a single bit of concrete proof as to why he belongs in the hall. Wanna know why? There isn’t any. Just anecdotal evidence from people who grew up watching Reggie play and therefore have INCREDIBLE bias. So, think what you want, just know your thinking isn’t backed up by anything reasonable or logical.

  • The Philosopher

    So, you’re telling me that the selection comittee grew up watching Reggie Miller, and are biased?
    And I have procured plenty of proof earlier.
    But I understand.
    Many people feel the same way you do.

  • The Philosopher

    So, now that we’ve established that Miller’s era was better, how can we factually and truthfully argue that West is better than Miller?
    So, my alleged logical fallacy is comparable to you using stats to butress the argument of West being better than Miller. Think about it.
    You’ve just helped prove my point.
    Not to beat a dead horse, and not trying to troll…

  • The Philosopher

    Your last point remains to be seen, I suppose.
    We’d have to ask them.
    As for Jackson perhaps being biased towards Miller, that also may or may not have validity.
    But Mark Jackson, it can be argued, may or may not be biased towards quite a few players.
    And perhaps other players may, or may not be biased towards a player(s) as well.

  • Caboose

    Wilt played in a worse era than Dwight. Is Dwight better?

  • The Philosopher

    I will say this;
    Wilt would not be the player today that he was back then.
    Ran the floor well, quick first step. Great leaper. Great defender.
    Marcus Camby.
    But Wilt is one of those players who is ahead of their time.
    Shaq is ahead of his time.
    Shaq is better than Wilt.

  • Caboose

    I swear you’re just trying to troll. So Wilt, who was 7’1 and could outlift Shaq would only be Marcus Camby? There is nobody in today’s NBA anywhere CLOSE to how strong and athletic Wilt was. Dwight would be short and weak, and we see how he dominates the post today. There’s no reason to believe Wilt wouldn’t put up 30 a game in today’s league.

  • The Philosopher

    My bad. I thought we were talking about what kind of ball player he would be. Not who can outlift who.
    Now, on that note, you MAY have a quite valid point. IF in fact, that is true.
    But to counter your point about how there is no one who can measure to Wilt physically, I think that that’s inaccurate. Shaq can’t handle Wilt on the blocks?
    So, all of these 7 foot plus guys… none of the guys from today, or the 90′s, or 80′s can hang with Wilt on the blocks?

  • The Philosopher

    And in which way do you speak of Howard dominating? I hope you speak of defensive prowess.

  • https://twitter.com/#!/GametimeWeezy Gametime

    Former 3-point record holder doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame? Oh..

  • shutup

    You really shouldn’t use his HOF status to justify his HOF status (ie-willing his team to victory as the lone HOF player) btw I am pretty sure Marc Jackson will make it to the Hall too

  • shutup

    I am not saying his career doesn’t warrant induction; but he is definitely on the bubble, his career had some note worthy moments, but it is blasphemy to say he is a top 3 sg of his era, let alone of all-time. That was the main point I was trying to prove.

  • The Philosopher

    No doubt.
    And I respect your view.

  • The Philosopher

    Respect.

  • Ugh

    Anecdotal evidence? You can talk!
    Your assertions he was a bad playmaker, defender and clutch player are without any kind of metric evidence whatsoever AND you admit that you didn’t grow up watching him – where do you get your opinions of him from, then?

  • Ugh

    ATTENTION, ATTENTION. Here is something that may clear up the confusion about Reggie deserving to be a HoFer.
    Courtesy of Wiktionary: “Fame: The state of being famous or well-known and spoken of.”

    Reggie is, and was, famous. And was so for playing basketball. In fact we’re speaking about his well known basketball abilities right now.

    The Hall of Fame is not, and has never been, the Hall of Excellence, the Hall of Greatness, the Hall of Legendary Playing Ability.

    (And this is not an assertion that Reggie was never these traits, just statement of fact.)

    Now stop arguing like children and suck up the fact that it’s about being a famous player, not a great one.

  • Caboose

    Sigh.
    -Bad Playmaker: 3.0 apg for his career, never higher than 4.0 for a season. PPR of about 2.0 for his career.
    -Bad Defender: Never averaged more than 3.0 defensive win shares in a season. He has the same career average as roughly Jameer Nelson.
    -Bad Clutch Player: Read my earlier post about how he performed in closing games. You’re welcome to look up the actual percentages he shot in clutch situations; they’re right around league average.
    For the record, I offered plenty of metric stats, you just were far too lazy to read through the arguments I presented earlier. Cheers.

  • Caboose

    These guys let Dwight hang over 20 a game on them. Wilt was FAR superior athletically to Howard. Higher vert by about 8 inches, faster speed, greater strength, and much greater length. Which 7 foot monster are you speaking of today? Tyson Chandler? Andrew Bynum? If you think Wilt couldn’t dominate them on the block, I just don’t know what to say. There are 3 people in history I think who could contain Wilt’s combination of speed and strength: Kareem, Hakeem, Mutombo.

  • The Philosopher

    Don’t forget Robinson…
    You pretty much brought up the guys I was thinking about.
    I just had an issue with the thought that no one in modern NBA History can hang with Wilt on the blocks. That’s all.
    And I believe that Shaq, Alonzo Mourning, and Dwight Howard can all hold their own against Wilt, defensively.
    And of course, I can be wrong.
    Hell, we all can be wrong.
    But that’s part of the beauty and part of the fun of these kinds of discussions.

  • Caboose

    I agree, speculative stuff like this is fine to just chat about. I disagree about Dwight though, Wilt is just too damn long for him. Dwight relies on his vert a lot, and Wilt outjumps him by a GOOD margin.

  • The Philosopher

    Hey, maybe you’re right.
    But Howard has built, and is still building a reputation to many as, one of the elite defenders of all time.
    At least, in his respective generation.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Sure, Miller had a championship-caliber team for one season with Ron Artest, Jermaine O’Neal, and Stephen Jackson….. Oh wait, Malice at the Palace. From the list of guys you just named, are you really going to blame Reggie for not winning a ring with the two guys who got themselves suspended (one for the entire season)?
    Also funny how no one here mentioned Jalen Rose, who was the Pacers’ second best player when they made it to the finals. Just saying.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    What exactly are you arguing? Are you saying he doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame or are you complaining about the Hall itself?

  • Drig

    I just realized TMac and VC are gonna enter the HOF………… :(

  • Drig

    Once I heard about Reggie making the HOF, I was immediately thinking that these guys better have a good reason to not induct Mitch Ritchmond into the HOF soon. And T-Mac in the future….

  • shutup

    Woah, woah, woah may I interject, well of course I can…. Dwight Howard is not an elite defender, he is an elite defensive player, subtle difference but its still different. Dwight does not stop people. What I am trying to say is he rarely changes the shot of the man he is guarding, Pau gave him fits, Bynum gets his when they play and almost any other center with an above average offensive game is going to get their points on Howard. Bowen was an elite defender, Tony Allen, Scottie Pippen, even Ron Artest (not MWP so much) are of the same ilk.

  • shutup

    Respect

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    @disqus_TS5ENDusN3:disqus @disqus_hxPumCveGM:disqus @disqus_oxoGJMLagc:disqus – Reggie Miller was not a better NBA player than Bernard King. Who is not in the Hall. It’s not about how good the players was, but about how much they garnered attention.

  • http://twitter.com/AjpDos Allen Powell

    Iverson should have been on the tier with Wade, Drexler and West. I see the stat geeks are slowly eroding the significance of his career as the years go by. Figures.

  • shutup

    Bernard King is a favorite of mine and him not being in the hall is a travesty. I think out of the 4 major North American Sports; Basketball has the lowest standard for induction in it’s HOF. Thinking of Bernard King brings to mind fond memories of watching tape of Vinnie Johnson and Adrian Dantley; all of which in some way influenced my post-game development.

  • shutup

    If by chance you can name some other Non-HOF players, that had comparable or better NBA careers than Miller, I would appreciate the education. I was never one to follow players post-nba careers with much interest, unless they end up on basketball wives.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Well there are many other players, not many wings though.
    I’d argue, Sidney Moncrief was a better NBA player than Reggie and he’s not in the Hall. That would be my other biggest gripe aside from Bernard King.

  • Caboose

    You could add in Dennis Johnson if we’re just talking about wings. As far as all players better than Reggie not in the Hall, I’d say:
    -King
    -Moncrief
    -Haywood
    -McGinnis
    -Johnson
    -Stokes (sentimental)

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    I agree that all of them were better except Stokes. But Dennis Johnson got elected in 2010 bruh.

  • Caboose

    Did he? My bad, totally forgot that then.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    yeah, unfortunately the year after he passed away. The HOF procrastinates on deserving guys. I hope to goodness Bernard gets in soon, he really deserves it.

  • Rook

    Caboose=maaad dumb

  • shutup

    Not really familiar with Sidney Moncrief; but I looked up his stats and wasn’t that impressed, stats wise he had what seems like a better than average NBA career and I have seen him ranked as high as 110 all-time but not really sure I believe he was more deserving than Reggie Miller, what makes you believe he was better than Reggie Miller? (not being arguementative; strictly inquisitive)

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    don’t worry i like to explain my beliefs man. Basically Moncrief is one of the top 5 defensive wings of all-time. With what he could do offensively, (he had a 4 or 5 seasons at 20PPG with atleast 4Rpg & 4APG) and his defensive accolades, (DPOY in 83 & 84, 5-Time All-Defensive Team Selections) his overall game made him (imo) a better overall player than Reggie Miller.

  • shutup

    Makes sense, now I understand the high overall all-time ranking, but I can also understand why he hasn’t gotten the nod yet. Offense is more championed than defense. Even though at their respective peaks Moncrief might have been the better player and many people’s pick if given the choice between the two; Miller on paper has had the better career Miller has 2x+ the career points of Moncrief, and we all know that even though defense wins games; offense is what the people come to see.

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