Step on any basketball court around the world and you will see semblances of his game. Whether it be the YMCA league, a rec league, runs on the blacktop or just hooping with your friends, you will find someone that makes you go: “This guy plays like Andre Miller.”
All you need to do is play with a slow, methodical pace mixed with unbelievable body control, boast a resilient post-game, have a keen eye for passing lanes, and an acumen for making plays for others and you’re well on your way to playing like the 17-year pro out of Los Angeles, California.
Miller was never an All-Star. He never won an NBA championship. But somehow someway, he left a lasting legacy on a generation of basketball fans who grew up watching him play his signature style. Throughout his career, he played alongside some legends, played for iconic teams, and above all else — rarely missed a game. He is the Ironman in basketball history. A true testament to the resilience required to play and, above all else, survive in the trepid waters that are NBA basketball.
I got the chance to sit down with now Head Coach Andre Miller, who just finished up his first season on the sidelines with the Denver Nuggets G-League affiliate team the Grand Rapids Gold. We talked about the Nuggets championship, how he relates to Nikola Jokic’s game, and how it was coaching Peyton Watson and Jack White, both of whom are also champions now. We talked about how it feels to transition into coaching in this new era of basketball and the struggles that come with it. We talked about Carmelo, George Karl, and everything in between.
Enjoy!
Es:
I guess I’ll start off with this. because you spent some time playing with the Denver Nuggets. Two different stints actually. And now you’re part of the organization. How did it feel for you to see Denver get to that point, knowing you’ve been a part of some special teams yourself?
Andre:
Man, it’s an exciting time for the Nuggets. (There was) some great teams that I played on, a very competitive conference, when I played and, you know, just to see how the organization has stuck with the motto of putting a good product out there to compete not just for the playoffs, but you know, deeper into the playoffs into a championship run. The bubble was a great sign of what led up to right now. And I’m just happy for the franchise. I still have friends in Denver, Colorado, and of course, management has changed, but the ownership is still there. And they’re still committed to winning. And, you know, the last three or four years for the franchise for the ownership is been very good. You win football, then hockey, and now basketball. So it’s an exciting time and congratulations to the ownership of the Denver Nuggets.
Es:
I’m assuming you watched the games?
Andre:
Yeah, I caught like about five or six games. Just going back and forth to Denver just to, you know, embrace the environment. You know, of course, I was able to plan some playoff series in that arena but never was able to get out to the second round. But just to see the environment to see, the vibe around the city, and see how the team was playing well, and they just put on put on a nice run and capped it off with a championship. Much props to the organization.
Es:
You sort of mentioned that you’ve been a part of some really, really special teams and hey, regardless of making it out of the first round with those nuggets, teams, I mean, you guys had some crazy competition, especially in your second stint in Denver, where you guys face the Warriors, you know, you had that classic game-winner that everybody remembers. I guess that was sort of the beginning of this run for a lot of people because the semblances of the team were there. Right? You have certain things that started back then that are seeing fruition now. I mean, it was 10 years ago, 2013 to the day almost that this playoff run that you guys had with against the Warriors happen. So, for your own sake, like do you see this transition?
Andre:
The organization management has found a formula, the formula of what it takes to put a team together, you know, with the scouting department and how they recruit players, how they mixed the younger guys with veterans who I believe, you know, you always have to have a couple of veterans on the team that is high character. And this is just all about building and being ahead of the game as far as staying on top of how the league is transitioning and adjusting, but you just got to have good staff and people to put something together and be ahead of the game. So I think the Nuggets do have a formula and hopefully, it continues to flow like that.
Es:
I mentioned earlier that you’re a 17-year vet. So you’ve seen the growth of the game, you know, you started in 1999 and finished off your career in 2016 Lots of basketball, right and you’ve seen the game grow in that time. And now you’re seeing it as a coach: how much does it amaze you that there is a big guy like Jokic, doing what he’s doing making the plays being the playmaker for a team?
Andre:
What that guy has done has been probably one of the most historic things that a player can do in this league, you know, coming from where he comes from the transition to the American game. His work ethic, his competitiveness, and, you know, it’s kind of like a breath of fresh air, because you see players coming to League and, and they take the game for granted. You know not all the players are fully committed, but it’s just some players that just, stick out in my mind, as far as they want to maximize their time, while they’re in the NBA and Joker has shown that he has with his work ethic. He’s a leader, he leads by example, and everybody follows. So, you know, it’s a good feeling for X player to see that you have guys that have that type of work ethic that not just want to be in the NBA, they want to be great, right? They want great. So when you have a guy like that, that leads by example, it makes the coach’s staff and everybody else’s job a lot easier.
Es:
I am very, very interested to see what you think of Jokic, which, just by the way, he creates advantages on the court, you know, he’s not necessarily the quickest player, he’s not the fastest player, and I think in a lot of ways, some people may say that even though you guys play different positions, there’s a similarity to the way you guys created advantages, despite not having the quickest or burstiness of steps. How do you think, from your perspective, Jokic and yourself are able to carve up defenders and create advantages by still playing at the pace that you’d like to play?
Andre:
I mean, our games are very similar, just in different positions. Yes. And I was a point guard. And one thing that I do like about him as a basketball player, again, is just making everybody around him better. I used to be offended when people say, You know what, he’s not fast. He’s not athletic.
Es:
I know, you could get up there, though!
Andre:
You know, I won’t be offended. You know, and I could tell you now, over half the time, I felt like I was more athletic than half the point guards that I played against. It was just something that stuck with you. But, you know, I got a chance to watch this big fella move around. And he moves well. He moves very well. He’s more athletic. He’s faster than you think, he’s stronger than you think so you know, is just what the eyes see (when) you looking at a TV like you see this big guy who you know, you’re used to seeing a guy that big, be a stiff, a guy that can’t move around, but he moves just as good and probably better than any other big in the league. And it’s just a perception that there’s something for everybody to talk about. He is definitely (the type) that if he needs to get up there and dunk on somebody, he will but you know, if he needs to go out there and score 40-50 points, he will but that’s just not his mentality. He plays the game simply and the attractive thing that makes it unique is that he’s a Center. So, you know, that makes it fun to watch.
Es:
It’s funny because what you just described in a lot of ways does remind me of what your game is, you know, like you mentioned, you know, some people may not think it’s the fastest the quickest, but you were able to get fast and quick and make great decisions be a guy who can read the floor really, really well, a guy that a lot of players wanted to play with. And I think Jokic has a similar skill set in that you’re currently 12th all-time in NBA history in assists, Jokic, I’m sure is on his way up there. But what allowed you in your career to be such a profound playmaker? What was the thing that you worked on? Maybe when you were a kid, or when you were at the parks like what was the thing that helped you become such a prolific playmaker?
Andre:
I mean, number one for me, was being a student of the game and watching the players who came before me. The discipline, the hard work and those guys be a student of the game and you can’t lose sight of that because that’s what drives the NBA. Right? And to see guys that take that for granted. You know, the number one thing I tell a lot of kids Is this game is a team game is five guys on the court. And then you have the bench guys and you have a coaching staff. So you have to have discipline. And you have to be unselfish, and a lot of people feel a lot of players feel that “oh, well, if I go get my 20-25 points, 10 rebounds or whatever. I’m gonna be a superstar.” And it doesn’t work like that. And in this league what the players have to understand, players that want to have longevity is there’s only going to be a couple of stars on every team. And everybody else has to fulfill a role. So when you want to try to go into a gym and start training, and going into what you call “your bag”, and trying to add all this stuff to the game, you’re not going to be allowed to do that on the basketball court, because that’s for the stars, everybody else has to fulfill a role. And I don’t want players to lose sight of that, it’s just the business of the game. But this is a team sport, and being a student of the game, being unselfish, and having a good attitude is key. You never know who you might cross or who might want to help you out. And maybe you might not be as talented, but maybe a coach wants you on the team because you bring good vibes and good energy to the locker room. Right now, that could get you four or five years in the NBA right there. Play your cards. Right. That’s how I see it in a nutshell.
Es:
I think it’s, it’s interesting you mentioned sort of learning the game, teaching the game, understanding what came before you. And I think it’s very interesting because you’ve had such a lengthy career, that you’ve also seen the evolution of the point guard, right? You’ve seen how much it’s changed throughout your time. And even after your time. You know, looking at guys like Jamal Murray, who we just talked about with the Nuggets, or Steph Curry, all those guys out there. What do you think is the massive difference between the guys that you may have played against in 1999, the Marbury’s and the Kidd’s and those guys compared to, you know, some of the guards that you see today?
Andre:
I think the biggest difference is the shooting, right? There’s also a big mental part of it. But you know, the amount of time that these guys put in a gym in the offseason, like if I put that much time in the gym in the offseason, you know, I probably will be averaging maybe 50 to 55 games a season and you could see guys playing somewhere from 50 to 60 games during the season because their careers year round. So they’re doing a lot a lot of training. But you know, the shooting is a big difference. I think overall I’ll still take our generation over this generation just because of the mental part and the mental toughness, stuff that we had to deal with, back then as NBA players. But there’s nothing against these guys. I mean, they have taken the game to a great level. Lillard, Curry, Klay. All those guys, man. The shooting. I mean, you can’t even play basketball anymore if you can’t shoot the ball. You won’t touch a court. I mean, when you go into a gym, we don’t care if you jump, we don’t care if you run, we just want you to stand there and I want to see you make, out of 100 shots, I want to see you make 80 to 85. Yeah, it’s almost like, you know, in the NFL you can not have a lot of talent. But if you go run the 40-yard dash and 4.2 seconds for that “Oh, we got to have this guy on the team just because he ran that 40-yard dash that fast.” So that’s how it is in the NBA.
Es:
Okay, so actually, two questions that popped up from that, because I’m interested now, how do you think your game would have looked today? If you were playing in your prime into 2023?
Andre:
I think my game would be the same. I think I would probably average more points just because there was no… you know, when we play, and I hate to say when we play, but you shot three-pointer when you knew you were open, or you know, the rhythm of the game got through that, you know, got you to that point, and you’re like “Okay, I’m shooting this, I made a couple” or something like that. But you know, it was more you get the ball to the specialist, the guys that shoot the three-pointers. Now. I mean, everybody’s shooting three-pointers and there’s no repercussions. Right? So you know, let me go in the game back then and shoot about four or five three-pointers and miss all four or five of them? Most likely, that’s my night for the day, you know, it’s over. “Andre had a bad game.” But you know, in this generation you got forwards and Centers shooting seven and eight 3-pointers a game and not making them at a high clip and there are no repercussions. So a guy missed five or six three-pointers, coach is not gonna take them (out). Because that’s what they preach — the more three-pointers that you can shoot, the more opportunity we have to win the game, even even if you miss them. It’s a numbers game now. Right?
Es:
I actually am curious about another part of this too. Now that you mentioned it, you know, you’re obviously on the coaching side of things now. And you’ve transitioned into coaching recently, but you mentioned that the offseason is now like another season for these guys training-wise, and they’re only playing 55-60 games. You’re a guy who barely missed any games, in your amount of time playing. How is that mentally? Adjusting to coaching players that, you know, it’s a different generation, now you have to approach coaching a little bit differently than how you may have been coached when you were younger?
Andre:
It’s hard to accept because, to me, basketball is a commitment thing. And I had no other extracurricular activities going on, that will enter that will really interfere with basketball. And again, like I say, when I played if you had anything extracurricular going on, it was like you’re not 100% committed. Right? And now you see, guys working out all through the summer. Let’s get one thing, one thing straight: I mean, this lifestyle, that lifestyle is not normal. You know, you’re playing basketball, you’re flying to different cities, you’ve eaten in the middle of the night, you’re partying, you know, you’re trying to get everything in and go out there and be productive. And it’s very hard to manage if you don’t have your priorities straight. So just the commitment. That’s what I would like to see more out of the players: more commitment, more competitiveness. And it’s easy to wake up and say “You know what, I’m not feeling it today.” Right. But in order to be on that level, on an NBA level, and all those guys are superstars, the reason why you separate yourself is because you’re competitive, and you want to compete. So why would you throw all that away? “You know, what, I’m only gonna play 50-55 games” or “You know, something’s going on at home right now.” Nobody cares about that. In this new generation, you got the mental health, you got small injuries that guys (are) like “I’m not 100% I’m not feeling it today.” And I think that part of it is selfish. And at some point, it hurts the game. So you know, that part of it really needs to be corrected.
Es:
How many times in your career did you play hurt?
Andre:
A lot. I mean hurt not just physically, I mean, all these guys’ minds are hurting. So you know, you’re hurt physically, (just) as you hurt mentally, and sometimes it’s more mental, where you’re beating yourself up over minutes, or, you know, “Are they gonna trade me? Am I gonna get this contract is?”, family issues, all the off-court activities, that’s the mental part of it. The guys that survive, figure out how to separate those things and manage it, and be able to go on, I mean, 50-55 games is nothing. It’s nothing and those guys don’t practice anymore. So you have to be fully committed, and you want to be out there and be relied upon. And that’s very important for success: to be able to have the coach trust you to the point where — oh, okay, I can look down at the bench and say “You know what, I’m putting this guy in the game because I trust him.” Right?
Es:
I know you’re such a fierce competitor, you’re a guy that’s going to commit to anything 100% What made you get into coaching?
Andre:
I got into the coaching part almost kind of accidentally but it’s all I know. It’s pretty much all I know, like I said 100% of my time was invested in two things: family and basketball. Right? Well, you know, I have a couple of other hobbies, but you know, those never got in the way. Basketball so often felt like it was an obligation to give back and share the things that I learned from the time that I was growing up. Watching, the Magic Johnson’s play to Larry Bird’s and, you know, the Fat Levers. and Alex English’s and the Michael Jordan’s — that was how we grew up. So the need to give back, to want to give back. And I felt like it was an obligation. It’s something that I care about. I’m learning as I go.
Es:
This season you got to coach two guys who are on the Nuggets right now, Collin Gillespie and Jack White. They won a ring, technically, how has it been seeing those guys develop? And then now seeing them with the Nuggets being able to celebrate with the parade and whatnot?
Andre:
It was good to see those young guys, number one, be around that environment. Because they’re learning work ethic. They’re learning what it takes to become a pro, developing a championship mentality. As I said, I’ve never made it that far. So these guys can say when they grew up and look at their kids “Hey, we had a parade, we won the championship. Here’s my championship ring.” Those three guys along with Peyton Watson. Collin, I didn’t I didn’t really get a chance to see them this year because he had broke his leg before we even started. So I dealt with Peyton and Jack a lot. But I mean, you know, that was big for them. That was big for them. And it’s a big summer for them you don’t go into the summer to relax. When you’re young, you’re going into the summer saying “How am I gonna get better? I’m gonna get a lot of shots up, I’m gonna lift my weights, and I’m gonna go into camp and make a statement and show the coach, you know what? I’m going to be on the court. I don’t want to be in the G. I want to be on the NBA floor, playing and contributing on the NBA level, like a Christian Braun.” Right? So it’s good for those guys. I’m happy for him.
Es:
A lot of people are excited about Peyton Watson. I speak to a lot of Nuggets fans and a lot of Nuggets media, they’re excited for what kind of step he can take, what did you see from him this year that can you potentially help him take that next step into the rotation next year?
Andre:
He’s a long kid, I’m saying he’s very tall. He’s very athletic. He’s fast. And, you know, he did one year at UCLA, so it was gonna take some time. But I mean, he checks the most important box: he plays hard. And I will give him that, I can nit-pick but all the coach wants to see is that “you know what, when this kid he might, he might do some make some mistakes, and this and that, but he plays hard. He plays with heart.” So that’s what I was excited about working with him. I didn’t have to say. “hey, man, you need to play hard.” I never had to say to him and Jack, those guys came out and competed. And they wanted it. And that’s what I liked about those two guys.
Es:
So you’re saying Nuggets fans should be excited next season for those guys to get some playing time?
Andre:
I mean, basically, like Peyton and Jack White, you know, both of those guys have a competitive mentality like that Christian Braun kid that was drafted, right? And I’m saying those guys are gonna get out and play hard. The thing about Christian is you don’t see a lot of mistakes that he’s making out there. You know, on the defensive end, you know, he might make some little mistakes, but the coach trusts him. The reason why I trust him (Peyton) is that the kid doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and he plays hard. So I was happy that the guys that I had to deal with, Peyton and Jack, got a chance to see a youngster their age get out there and contribute to a championship team.
Es:
Is the eventual goal for you to end up coaching in the NBA? Is that to move up or is this just something that you’re you’re experimenting and trying?
Andre:
Well, I haven’t set any goals yet. One day at a time because you never know what can happen. I’m saying my thing is to keep my options open. Stay in the moment, you know, at first, I was skeptical about the G-League and but it was an opportunity to get some coaching experience. The G league is very competitive. A lot of good players, a lot of good players to have dreams of playing on that next level. Before it was just some way to form to get the NBA guaranteed contracts. So that’s the politics, the business part of it. But, my first year, was a lot of ups and downs, but I enjoyed being out there communicating with the players, and meeting other people that are trying to work their way through the basketball world and figure it out. So I had fun and I was learning.
Es:
Now, I needed to ask this because I wasn’t exactly sure if it lined up. But Michael Malone coached Sacramento, the same year you were in Sacramento, but I’m not sure if you were being coached by him at the same time. Is that true?
Andre:
I think I got traded to Sacramento from Washington, I think like, maybe 2014 or 2014, or 15. I want to say 15. So I was only there for a couple of months. And the coach there at the time was George Karl. Right? I think Malone was right before him, I believe I’m not sure about either, Malone or (Ty) Corbin. I’m not sure. But I was only there for like, February, March, and April.
Es:
Have you guys had a chance to interact or talk by any chance?
Andre:
I’ve been to two or three training camps with the Nuggets, just because they have training camp here in San Diego where I’m at. So, you know, I was able to go and ask them questions, spoke with him and just congratulate him on his success as a coach, and, at the same time I’m watching him, I’m learning how he carries himself as a coach, how he interacts with the players when to push them, when not to push them, practice etiquette, coaching etiquette, all those things. I’m not just being a student of the game any more on that I’m being a student of coaches now. I’m paying attention more to the coaches there.
Es:
Let’s look at the at the beginning, you said you guys never made it out of the first round with Denver. But for me, for people who watch you guys, those nuggets, teams laid the foundation for some really, really fun basketball, you, Melo, K-Mart, JR — it was really really entertaining basketball man, it was high-level stuff. You guys were high-octane, offensively. And it really paved the way. Even that second stint, Iguodala and Ty Lawson and all those guys. Do you? Do you feel any type of emotional connection to that parade and seeing the city of Denver?
Andre:
Honestly, I don’t. I’m very happy for the franchise. This is where I played my most years, you know, I think I played six and a half years with the Nuggets, the history of the franchise but there’s almost a ten-year gap from when I played to when they won the championship. I’m just appreciative of the opportunity, you know, given to me to represent the Nuggets in the Grand Rapids Gold, and them trusting in me trying to build character and teach these young guys how to be professional basketball players. That’s the main thing. So it’s kind of a disconnect, but I am still happy for the organization and for the players, because it’s very, very hard. And everything has to click a certain way for a team to win a championship. And, you know, kudos to the management, Tim Connelly, who was there previously, Calvin Booth who’s taken over, and just the leadership, the Kroenke family that’s been all about committed to winning the championship and they got it done. Right?
Es:
Okay, so I wanted to spend some time just doing some quick hitter questions about your career just to see. You can answer them as fast or as long as you want, doesn’t matter. Carmelo just recently retired, you were there for his rookie season in Denver. I mean, just seeing him retiring and being there for almost all of his journey really at the beginning and now at the end. How does that feel for you to see him retire?
Andre:
Man, I was happy to see him walk away. He’s given so much to the game. If it wasn’t for LeBron, you might be saying that Carmelo was probably the best in that class and kind of helped carry the NBA for a little bit. But I mean for him to come in with LeBron and do the things that he did. (He) was a great teammate for me. You know he made my job easier because all I had to do was pass the ball when he cherry-picked out on fastbreak (chuckles). Super cool, dude, man, and his work ethic is unreal. We’ve just had a good group of guys, man, I wish we could have won a championship. But you know, we were young men. We were young. And we were very talented. But I mean, you look at, you know, the first 10 years of my career. I mean, nobody wasn’t gonna win the championship because it was the Lakers and San Antonio. So they were eating up the championships. But I was just happy to be on the floor with a guy like Carmelo you know, because, you know, you knew you had a chance when he was out there.
Es:
He was part of your decision to sign with Denver, right?
Andre:
He was the reason why I signed in Denver. I was a free agent, a restricted free agent with the Clippers, and paid attention to the draft. And I’m like “Okay. Oh, the Nuggets got Carmelo Anthony” and it pretty much came down between the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz. I wanted to play with a young budding superstar because he had just won the championship versus, you know, maybe I had an opportunity to go to Utah and play with Jerry Sloan, and that would have been a dream come true. it was either or so I think it turned out for the best. It turned out for the best.
Es:
Do you think Denver should retire Carmelo’s Jersey because he and Jokic wear the same number?
Andre:
Yeah, I think so. I mean, what he did do for the city, what he did do for the franchise? I mean, you got the greats that have come through there. Mutombo. Yep, Fat Lever, Alex English. I mean, the list goes on and on. And it’s not just scorers, it’s guys that have contributed and put their bodies on the line for the Denver organization. And, you know, for the Nuggets to acknowledge Carmelo I mean, he was one of the biggest reasons why the organization started to turn around and finally got some respect. Absolutely. I mean, to go from a team that was last in the league to make the playoffs to next year. You know, I mean, it was tremendous. They can put two 15s up there. It’s okay.
Es:
I agree. And there’s other teams that have done that, by the way, the Knicks have. You mentioned earlier that you were coached by George Karl in different instances. He has been, you know, there’s been like different moods with George Karl, a lot of people either you either hate him or you love him. How was your experience being coached by a guy like George Karl?
Andre:
George is a great basketball mind. You know, I had an understanding about him before I even got to the NBA because he was close with my college coach Rick Majures. So I kind of knew his personality a little bit, I actually just got off the phone with his son Kobe, like about 30 minutes ago, before we even got on this on Zoom. But, you know, we had our ups and downs, we had our ups and downs, some great teams, sometimes it felt kind of overworked. But George was fully committed to winning. You don’t have to like his teaching. I mean, you don’t have to, like, you know, certain things, he had to do a job. George cared. And if you did your job and he didn’t care about, you know, feelings getting in the way because he was about winning. And if you put your feelings into the business of basketball, as far as you know, getting upset because of this, and because of that, or maybe the mind games and stuff like that, you just can’t allow those things to affect you. And sometimes it did affect us because we were young. But, you know, he had a job to do so I respect that. I love George Karl, (he) is a guy that went into the Hall of Fame. So you know, he’s been around a long time and I’ve been following him ever since I was little so I definitely have a ton of respect for him.
Es:
So I heard on a podcast that the Lebron James story, the story about you telling him to go to college, get yourself an education. And obviously, he doesn’t go to college, he goes straight to the NBA. gets drafted, number one overall, 20 years later, he’s going to be one of the oldest NBA players ever joining you joining us as one of the players to be one of the oldest players playing in the NBA. How does that feel?
Andre:
For me, man, it’s like, again, it was a blessing to play in the NBA. To me, that experience playing in the NBA was a dream. It wasn’t real. Nothing that I experienced in the NBA, I don’t, it wasn’t real to me, I lived out a dream. And, you know, early on back then, before LeBron came out when I met him when he was a junior in high school. I didn’t know. I didn’t know, I was right there in Cleveland. I didn’t know who LeBron James was. Because I was dreaming. I was in a dream. I was playing in the NBA, I didn’t have time to be coming out of my dream to be worried about a junior high school, you know? You know, the dream became a reality. When I did see him, and said those words to him, my agent said you might as well just ask for a trade. And that’s when the dream disappeared. Because I could have possibly won some championships playing with Lebron, but, you know, it was almost like a business move. A business that I had no clue about. I let other people kind of influence my decision to move on from Cleveland. But, you know, I live the dream. And that’s neither here nor there. Man, I lived a dream. I got the most out of my body, I got a chance to play against the greatest players in the world and it was a blessing.
Es:
You pioneered the quarterback-pass, which is the full court pass, you see there’s a big man sealing in the post down low or a lob pass, whatever. Where did you get that from? Is it just intuition? Or did you pick that up from another player?
Andre:
I think if you talk to a lot of guys from my generation, and you ask them who their favorite players that were growing up, you hear Magic Johnson. You hear Larry Bird, you hear Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen. You hear all — I mean, Reggie Miller, all the greats, Mark Jackson to me, you know, Gary Payton. When you take those guys, why did the game flourish when we came in, because we were all students of the game. And all those guys that played basketball back then, at least for me, when I watch guys play basketball back then, to me, they were all unselfish. They all play team basketball, and they all kept the game simple. And the ball just always found the superstar’s hands, the teammates, and the players knew who the superstar was, and they differed, and it was all about respect and playing the game the right way. I think that’s why our generation flourished, not just talent-wise, but mentally and physically, toughness, because of what we saw. And what we copied. Now you move forward now in this new generation it’s creating its own dialogue and its own basketball game, which is great. And there are still some students of the game out there but these youngsters are creating their own narrative when it comes to that basketball.
Es:
You’ve had a lot of career highlights. I mean, you go on YouTube you search up Andre Miller highlights and there’s there’s tons everywhere. Whether it be the passing or the game-winners, there’s the 52-point game against the Mavs. What’s your own personal favorite career moment?
Andre:
Well, a personal career moment is probably like the draft process. Going through the draft. I mean, all the other stuff was a dream playing against the greatest players in the world. But how much of it was a big deal? Like it didn’t become a big deal till I actually stepped on the court. But the process leading up to it? I think that was probably you know, the most important and most memorable thing to go to different cities, visit teams, do these interviews like — I don’t even know if it was a job interview. It was like maybe like a psychological interview to see if you got any sense, you know? Like, you got a basketball sense, Are you normal? Just got a full-on process. So that whole process of going through the draft, I think was the biggest moment for me.
Es:
I mean, the draft is coming up this week, what would be a piece of advice you would give to someone going through that process right now?
Andre:
Enjoy it. Stay in the moment. I don’t know why guys turn down workouts. “I’m only going to do this workout. And I’m only going to do that workout and now in the NBA workouts, become like the NFL like guys (are) not gonna go to the combine, we’re just focused on the individual workout like a pro day, like how they do for football. So, you know, I like to see those guys get in, get as many workouts, and get evaluated by as many people as they can. Because, you know, it helps spread the game, the more people find out that you can play the game (it) give guys another opportunity or a chance to go out there and prove themselves. I mean, you’ll find some hidden gems like the Joker, you find some gems like a Joker, all the way in a different country and somebody makes a call. “Oh, is this big kid?” Next thing you know, he’s in the draft.
Es:
I wanted to bring up a specific moment you hit the game-winner against the Warriors 2013 or 2014 playoffs. I can’t remember exactly what it was, I believe it was 2013. And that was around the same time that they started to climb up the ranks. Did you guys see that? When you were playing them? Did you see that? That they might be next up?
Andre:
If we look back at that series Gallinari had torn ACL right before the playoffs started. And out of all the teams — you know, I played on some good teams, the other Nuggets teams with Carmelo and Nene came in those teams were really good — but you know, you got Lakers and San Antonio. But that team where we won 57 games, we had a good roster, we had a great roster. That was one of the times that I felt you know what, “If we’re healthy, we can make it to the Western Conference Finals” and then Gallinari gets hurt right before the playoffs. And once we stepped on that court against the Warriors, I mean, Draymond Green wasn’t even playing! And then he got his opportunity when David Lee got hurt. And that’s when I knew — when Draymond Green stepped on the court. And I saw how the ball was going into the basket a little bit differently. You know, the way that ball was going through the basket when Curry and Klay Thompson. The way they were moving, it was something different. It wasn’t normal, it was like something was in the air. And I was almost like “I got a couple of years left because this is about to get bad. This is about to get real bad.” And you know, there’s something in the sky that’s making this ball go to the rim like that. So I saw it coming, I saw it coming. It wasn’t normal, that a guy that’s my size, not strong, but when I tell you when that ball leaves his fingers he could probably shoot the ball from my house into a basket somewhere. Great, great player and I’m just happy to see the success of those guys and what they’ve done for the league and for themselves in the NBA.
Es:
I want you to know, man, you have become a bit of a myth. In the sense that every time someone is playing and pick up, you know, you see someone who runs or whatever they’ll be like, “Oh, he kind of plays like Andre Miller this guy. He kind of plays like Andre Miller”. You have left a lasting legacy, no question, on the game of basketball, at least for my generation. You know you were saying you grew up watching guys like Magic and Isaiah. For us, it was you guys that were watching and you left a lasting legacy. Does that mean anything to you?
Andre:
It does! For all the ex-basketball players, high school, and college basketball players that have gone on to be all-stars in the YMCA League, 35 and 40-year-olds. You catch the guy walking through the Walmart or a grocery store “Man I used the post up in my game, the way you turn your body in the post” and because it’s relatable. Guys they look at me like “Man, how can he do that? Because I could do the same thing, right?” This is always going to be a kids’ game and that’s the way that I kept it. I played the game the exact way that I saw it growing up. You know, I’m saying I put a little twist in it by adding stuff to my game and getting me through the NBA but everything that I did was based on, you know, taking something from every player that I liked, or if I didn’t even to like them. I saw Mark Aguire, the way he dribbles and shoot a free throw, Patrick Ewing, and how you shoot this fade away. I’m not a Center, right? I might have seen how Larry Bird did a pass and you know, everything Magic Johnson. Everything that he did in my eyes was magical. It was nothing that he couldn’t do. “How did he do that?” So my game is relatable to everybody out there that just goes out there and plays basketball and tries to play it the right way.
Es:
I love it, man. I love it. Andre man wishing you nothing but success. Whether it be coaching whether it be doing whatever, skating, I know you’re a big skater, wishing you nothing but success. Thank you so much.
Andre:
Thank you very much for having me. Appreciate you.
