During his tenure as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird had the unique opportunity to witness Reggie Miller‘s qualities as a player up close. While “Uncle Reg” is known for his incredible 3-point shooting, what stood out most to “Larry Legend” was Reggie’s unwavering discipline and dedication to the game.
Bird recognized that Miller was not just another player on the team. He was a leader who exemplified a remarkable work ethic and commitment to excellence. For “Larry Legend,” “Uncle Reg” was the perfect role model for any young player in the league because he did everything the way any coach would love to see in a player.
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Larry also pointed out that he had encountered numerous dedicated players throughout his career, but none impressed him quite like Reggie.
“When I was around Reggie, everything that Reggie did was the right way. He knew how to prepare himself, he knew how many shots he had taken after practice, how many free throws, he knew before games how he was going to warm up, and he did it the right way,” the Boston Celtics icon said during a discussion with Reggie and fellow legend Isiah Thomas on NBA on TNT.
“I’ve been in the league for a long time, and he might be the only guy, maybe another one, that really prepared himself to play great, not just to play but play great,” Bird declared.
One NBA superstar was as well-prepared as Reggie
Miller’s meticulous and constant preparation is what allowed him to excel, particularly in critical situations during games. Even though these things took place behind the scenes, Reggie’s efforts did not go unnoticed.
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In fact, it wasn’t only Coach Bird who admired Miller’s work ethic and professionalism. Like “Larry Legend,” former Pacers big man Sam Perkins was also in awe of the legendary shooting guard’s exceptional consistency in preparing for every game.
While Bird firmly believes no other player possessed the level of dedication and discipline that “Uncle Reg” had, “Big Smooth” thinks the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant joins Miller in that category.
“I always respected Kobe. I really liked him a lot on and off the court, but his demeanor and how he approached the game was pretty much unlike anyone else I’ve played with. Anyone similar would probably have been Reggie Miller,” Perkins once said.
“Because Reggie prepared himself for each game, not because there was a game on the schedule that he played, but his mindset was for the whole season. And so, I think Kobe was the same way. Meticulous in what he did, and if he didn’t do it right, he would go back and practice it 20, 40, 60 times over till he get it right,” he continued.
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Reggie deserves more credit
Despite the respect and acknowledgment from the people who witnessed Miller’s greatness, he still hasn’t gotten the credit he rightfully deserves. For some, “Uncle Reg” is just one of the great players who never won an NBA title.
Nevertheless, Bird and Perkins’ insights into Miller’s work ethic serve as a reminder that greatness is not just about championships and accolades but also about consistency and the work a player puts in to achieve his goals. All told it’s no surprise Reggie left a lasting impact on his former coaches and teammates.