Reggie Miller said he'd have told Michael Jordan to "go f—k himself" if asked to join the Bulls: "I never came close to going anywhere else"

When the path to a championship looks blocked, many players are quick to jump ship. Reggie Miller, however, wasn’t one of them, spending all 18 of his NBA seasons with a single team.

In April 2021, the Indiana Pacers legend made that loyalty clear when asked about a hypothetical scenario: what if Michael Jordan had invited him to join the Chicago Bulls, the team that won six NBA titles in the 1990s?

“I would have told him (Jordan) to go f—k himself! I’ll be coming to see you on I-65 or whatever that highway is there. I’ll be down to see you,” said a defiant Miller, per ESPN.

From draft night boos to Pacers icon

Despite now being almost synonymous with the Pacers, Miller’s arrival in Indiana was anything but smooth. Selected 11th overall in 1987, the former UCLA Bruin was famously met with boos from fans on draft night, as they had hoped the team would take local hero Steve Alford instead.

Miller, however, quickly silenced the doubters. Delivering standout performances right out the gate, he earned his first All-Star nod in just his third year and eventually led the Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000.

Focusing solely on his lethal sharpshooting — the crown jewel of Miller’s many skills — it’s clear the 6’7″ shooting guard could have thrived on any NBA roster. Needless to say, he attracted plenty of suitors.

For instance, looking back on 1996, Reggie once shared that he “had a chance to go to New York” to join the Knicks. Yet he stayed loyal to Indiana, decades later noting, “I never came close to going anywhere else.”

The value of commitment

Miller has said that same unwavering loyalty would’ve guided him even if the 1990s Bulls — stacked with Hall of Famers Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and coached by Phil Jackson — had come calling.

It’s safe to say that if Miller had abandoned the Pacers for Chicago, he likely wouldn’t have retired without a championship title. However, winning rings was never the priority — at least not with any team other than the one from Indiana.

Even though the California native admitted it stung that a title never came, staying put amid all the setbacks brought its own silver lining.

Reggie, for instance, reflected on the joy of seeing a new generation of Pacers fans wearing his retired No. 31 — kids who weren’t even born when he played, discovering his career through parents who had watched him live.

“I will take the love of those fans and those kids over any championship because that is just as everlasting as that proverbial ring — the relationship I have with those fans. It’s just unbelievable in Indiana,” he said wholeheartedly.

In an era where fans often criticize ring chasing, it would be refreshing to turn that criticism and hate into appreciation for those loyal, one-team figures. Miller, along with fellow Hall of Famers Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant, are prime examples of those who were highly sought after yet chose to stay with the franchises that had drafted them.

If the NBA world celebrated that loyalty more, perhaps more players would see that commitment can be just as meaningful as a championship ring on their résumé.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Reggie Miller said he’d have told Michael Jordan to “go f—k himself” if asked to join the Bulls: “I never came close to going anywhere else”

Tags: