Reggie Re-Signs with Multi-Year Deal

That’s why the Pacers’ President and CEO was so optimistic after finalizing a new contract for the franchise’s most prolific player Wednesday afternoon. The deal didn’t represent a reward for Miller’s past, but an investment in his present and future.

“It means Reggie will play his entire career for the Indiana Pacers, yet I’m still not limiting him to this contract alone,” Walsh said. “I think people will be surprised to see him play next year. Because the ankle problems he had last year (has been resolved), Reggie will be in a better position to bring his game up to where it normally is.

“You have to remember, he averaged 30 points a game in the playoffs two years ago. Reggie is an unusual player. I can’t imagine what it would be like to go out and play a Pacers game without Reggie. He probably could’ve joined the Lakers or a team like that to have a great chance at winning a championship, but he wanted to come back and try to do it here.”

Miller, who turns 38 on Saturday, came to town to sign his contract and also participate in a celebrity bowling tournament hosted by Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, thus there was no press conference.

“I am very excited. It is rare to start and finish your career with one organization,” said Miller. “I am very blessed and honored. I would like to thank the Pacers’ organization, especially Donnie and the Simon family.

“I wanted to be loyal to myself, the franchise and the fans by finishing my career with the Pacers and pursue our goal of winning a championship. I could not see myself being one of those players that bails out on their franchise just to try and win a ring.”

Miller averaged 12.6 points on .441 shooting last season, the lowest output since his rookie campaign of 1987-88. An ankle injury suffered in preparation for the 2002 World Basketball Championship prior to last season turned out to be a much bigger setback than originally anticipated. He admittedly rushed back too quickly to try to assist the U.S. team, aggravated the injury and was forced to sit out the first 12 games of the regular season.

The injury never fully healed, and Miller underwent surgery on his right ankle immediately after the postseason ended.

Walsh

“It was severe when it happened but I don’t think you could’ve operated on it during the season,” Walsh said. “It caught him by surprise that it didn’t get better and then the question became, ‘What do you do about it?’ If you had operated in the middle of the season, that would’ve ended it for him last year. So he made the decision not to have it operated on and to play the whole year and it just didn’t get a whole lot better.

“He gutted his way through it, never said a word about it, never used it as an excuse. But you could tell after a while that there was something wrong. He was having a tough time out there.”

Walsh said Miller’s rehab from the May surgery is proceeding normally and that he’ll resume playing basketball in September, the month before training camp opens. Though his camp schedule may need to be curtailed, Miller is expected to be ready to start the 2003-04 season.

“It’s very important for our team because Reggie has been such a mainstay and has basically stood for all the values you have to have in order to have a successful team,” Walsh said. “It would really hurt us to lose a guy that has his kind of competitiveness, professionalism and experience.”

Though the negotiations appeared to take weeks, there was little actual haggling.

“It’s true I’ve probably always had Reggie go last, but there has always been a strategy – not so much with Reggie, but with the rest of the team,” Walsh said. “In my mind, he was done on July 1. I do think that he has probably wondered why I’ve done it that way, but my answer to him has always been, ‘Don’t worry about it. We’re going to get it done. We always do.’”

The 6-7, 195-pound guard has also been one of the NBA’s premier postseason performers by raising his scoring average nearly four points a game in the playoffs, as well as providing numerous, memorable and dramatic games. His reliability and durability are without question as he has played in 1,243 of a possible 1,280 regular season games (.971) for the Pacers.

Miller, who has spent his entire 16-year career with the Pacers, is a five-time NBA All-Star and is the league’s, as well as the Pacers’, all-time leader in 3-point field goals made (2,330) and attempted (5,854). He is the Pacers’ all-time leading scorer by more than 10,500 points with 23,505.

Miller is also the Pacers’ all-time leader in seasons (16), games (1,243), minutes (43,260), field goals made (7,667), field goals attempted (16,366), free throws made (5,841), free throws attempted (6,593) and steals (1,390). He is second in 3-point field goal percentage (.398) and assists (3,746) and third in free throw percentage (.886).

Miller is a three-time All-NBA Third Team selection and was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team in 1996. He was also a member of the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the 1994 World Basketball Championships and a member of the 2002 U.S. World Basketball Championship team.

Barry Moves On; So Do Pacers

Walsh said he remains confident that the depth issue in the backcourt will be resolved. Veteran Anthony Johnson was signed from New Jersey to back up point guard Jamaal Tinsley. Freddie Jones, a first-round pick last year and undrafted free-agent signee Carl English are the other shooting guards on the roster. Starting small forward Ron Artest also has played the position.

“We have players in those positions,” Walsh said, “and I’m going to get another player in that position. We’re still looking to see if we can add to our backcourt a little more.”