Mike Miller

Mike Miller, born February 19, 1980, is a retired American basketball player and coach who spent 17 seasons in the NBA. Selected fifth overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2000 draft, he earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2001 and later won the Sixth Man of the Year award with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2006. He won back-to-back NBA championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013.

After playing college ball for the Florida Gators under Billy Donovan, Miller entered the NBA. Known as a swingman and three-point specialist, he also suited up for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Denver Nuggets. Following his playing days, he worked as a college assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers, resigning after two seasons. He then became head coach at Houston High, leading the school to its first basketball state championship in his single season there, a 62–43 win on March 20, 2021.

In 2020, Miller founded Let It Fly Team Sports Management, an agency representing college and pro football and basketball players. His clients include Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero and New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jeremiah Fears.

Miller accepted a scholarship to Florida, playing from 1998 to 2000. As a sophomore, his buzzer-beating floater in overtime lifted the Gators past Butler in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, propelling them to the 2000 championship game, which they lost to Michigan State. He declared for the NBA draft after that season.

Drafted fifth by Orlando in 2000, Miller debuted on October 31, 2000, with 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals in a win over Washington. He was the only rookie to play all 82 games in 2000–01, starting 62, and averaged 11.9 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 40.7% from three.

Midway through the 2002–03 season, Miller was traded to Memphis alongside Ryan Humphrey for Gordan Giriček and Drew Gooden. In October 2003, he signed a six-year, $47.25 million extension. He won Sixth Man of the Year in 2005–06, averaging 13.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists on 47% shooting and 41% from three in 30.6 minutes per game. On January 3, 2007, he hit nine three-pointers against Golden State, breaking the Grizzlies franchise record. He became the first NBA player since George McCloud in 1996 to hit at least seven threes in three straight games. Miller also set a franchise record with 45 points on February 21, 2007, against the Warriors, later broken by Ja Morant in 2022. After the 2006–07 season, he was named to the USA Basketball team.

On June 26, 2008, Miller, Brian Cardinal, Jason Collins, and the fifth pick (Kevin Love) were traded to Minnesota for Marko Jarić, Antoine Walker, Greg Buckner, and the third pick (O. J. Mayo). In his lone Timberwolves season, he averaged a career-high 4.5 assists but a career-low 9.9 points.

On June 23, 2009, Miller and Randy Foye were sent to Washington for Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila, and the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft. A shoulder injury cost him games early in the 2009–10 season. In 54 games, he averaged 10.9 points—his last double-digit scoring season—and finished second in the league in three-point accuracy at 48.0%.

On July 15, 2010, Miller signed a five-year, $25 million deal with Miami, reuniting with former Gators teammate Udonis Haslem. He injured his thumb guarding LeBron James in preseason practice, missing several weeks. He returned on December 20, 2010, against Dallas. On January 22, 2011, starting for an ill Dwyane Wade, he scored a season-high 32 points in a win over Toronto. In the 2011 playoffs, he averaged 2.6 points in 12 minutes per game, with a high of 12 in Game 4 against Chicago. Miami lost the 2011 NBA Finals to Dallas in six games.

On January 18, 2012, Miller made all six of his three-point attempts in a win over San Antonio, scoring 18 points after missing games due to injury. In the 2012 playoffs, he averaged 5.2 points and scored in double figures in each series as Miami reached the Finals against Oklahoma City. In Game 5, he hit seven three-pointers, setting an NBA Finals record for most threes by a reserve.