Andre Miller Unhappy With Backup Role in Denver

Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl has a problem on his hands, and that problem is Andre Miller. Reports Fox Sports: “Denver Nuggets point guard Andre Miller regularly was a starter in his first 12 NBA seasons. He’s not too happy with that changing. Miller, who becomes a free agent after the season, said before Wednesday’s game against New Jersey that he would ‘probably not’ return to the Nuggets next season if the role is to back up Ty Lawson. But Miller wouldn’t completely rule that out as a possibility if no better situations were available. ‘At this point in my career, I don’t see myself as a backup,’ Miller said. ‘For 13 years, I wasn’t a backup before. This is a short season (due to the lockout), so I’ll deal with it. But I don’t see myself as a backup at this point in my career. I don’t see that.’ […] Miller, who was Denver’s starting point from 2002-06, was reacquired on draft night last June. There has been talk of Miller, 35, serving as a mentor for Lawson, 24, a third-year man. But Miller said Lawson doesn’t need that. ‘Ty, he’s worked hard. He’s had his mentor with Chauncey Billups,’ Miller said of the point guard who was dealt last February from Denver, which led to Lawson becoming the starter. ‘Why would they need me to come in and put in my two cents?’ Miller said he hasn’t spoke of not liking his backup role to Nuggets coach George Karl, and that he doesn’t plan to have such a conversation. Karl said this was the first he’d heard of Miller’s disappointment. ‘I’m glad he’s proud of himself and he wants to play,’ Karl said. ‘But I think this still is the best opportunity for him.’”