More Than A Shooter
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Mike Miller brings leadership and an all-around game to the Wolves.
When Mike Miller was traded on draft night this past summer, it was not the first time the veteran NBA guard/forward was included in a multi-player swap.
The Orlando Magic traded the former 2001 NBA Rookie of the Year, along with Ryan Humphrey and two draft picks, to Memphis in February 2003 for Drew Gooden and Gordan Giricek. Miller found himself again moved this past June, along with Brian Cardinal, Jason Collins and the draft rights to Kevin Love, to the Minnesota Timberwolves for four players.
For the South Dakota native, it is as close to coming home as he can get.
"I'm excited to be back. [Minnesota] is pretty much home for me," said Miller, winner of the 2006 NBA Sixth Man Award.
A 14 points-per-game career scorer, Miller brings a shooter's reputation to his third pro club - a reputation well deserved. During his Sixth Man Award season, Miller had 15 20-plus scoring games, and once poured in 41 points against Denver. He also set Memphis franchise records in 2006-07 for most three-pointers in one game (9), total three-pointers made and attempted.
Last year, he became one of only four players to shoot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc in each of the last four seasons, and shot over 50 percent (.502) from the field for the second time in three seasons.
However, according to Minnesota head coach Randy Wittman, Miller surprised him once he donned a Wolves uniform.
"He is a good leader, and shown some direction on the floor for our young guys," the head coach marveled. "That has been a big plus for us."
"I think his presence in the locker room has been huge," Wolves assistant coach John-Blair Bickerstaff said of Miller.
Miller said he's not surprised that his other qualities are somewhat hidden behind his shooter's rep. "One thing about this league," he explained, "is that you will be labeled. If it's a shooter, that what he does. If he is a ballhandler, he's not a shooter."
Miller prefers to be known more as a complete player. "Just put me out there, and I can make the game easier for people," he said.
Wittman was surprised by Miller's defensive abilities - something most shooters usually aren't known for.
"No one would consider him a lock-down, one-on-one defender, but he is a great team defender," Wittman said. "He is always in the right spot. That has surprised me a little bit. Mike has shown that he is capable of defending. You don't know those kinds of things unless you coach a guy. We know his ability to shoot and spread the floor, but [his defense] has been a pleasant surprise."
Even so, Miller still shoots. And shoots. And shoots.
"He's a gym rat - he is in the gym all the time, before practice and after practice," Wittman said. "I think that's why he created the career he has."
Miller affirmed this as well. "Growing up in South Dakota, my only option [if] I wanted to make the next level was to spend a lot of time in the gym."
"His mission is to be the greatest shooter on the planet," said a smiling Bickerstaff. Then seriously, he added, "I've never seen a guy be in the gym as often and consistent as he has been."
"A lot of people shoot thousands of shots, but it's how many you make," Miller contends. "The one thing I always focused on the last 6-7 years of my NBA career was that I've done the same drills every day."
One of his favorite shooting drills is "plus-minus."
When Mike Miller was traded on draft night this past summer, it was not the first time the veteran NBA guard/forward was included in a multi-player swap.
The Orlando Magic traded the former 2001 NBA Rookie of the Year, along with Ryan Humphrey and two draft picks, to Memphis in February 2003 for Drew Gooden and Gordan Giricek. Miller found himself again moved this past June, along with Brian Cardinal, Jason Collins and the draft rights to Kevin Love, to the Minnesota Timberwolves for four players.
For the South Dakota native, it is as close to coming home as he can get.
"I'm excited to be back. [Minnesota] is pretty much home for me," said Miller, winner of the 2006 NBA Sixth Man Award.
A 14 points-per-game career scorer, Miller brings a shooter's reputation to his third pro club - a reputation well deserved. During his Sixth Man Award season, Miller had 15 20-plus scoring games, and once poured in 41 points against Denver. He also set Memphis franchise records in 2006-07 for most three-pointers in one game (9), total three-pointers made and attempted.
Last year, he became one of only four players to shoot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc in each of the last four seasons, and shot over 50 percent (.502) from the field for the second time in three seasons.
However, according to Minnesota head coach Randy Wittman, Miller surprised him once he donned a Wolves uniform.
"He is a good leader, and shown some direction on the floor for our young guys," the head coach marveled. "That has been a big plus for us."
"I think his presence in the locker room has been huge," Wolves assistant coach John-Blair Bickerstaff said of Miller.
Miller said he's not surprised that his other qualities are somewhat hidden behind his shooter's rep. "One thing about this league," he explained, "is that you will be labeled. If it's a shooter, that what he does. If he is a ballhandler, he's not a shooter."
Miller prefers to be known more as a complete player. "Just put me out there, and I can make the game easier for people," he said. Wittman was surprised by Miller's defensive abilities - something most shooters usually aren't known for.
"No one would consider him a lock-down, one-on-one defender, but he is a great team defender," Wittman said. "He is always in the right spot. That has surprised me a little bit. Mike has shown that he is capable of defending. You don't know those kinds of things unless you coach a guy. We know his ability to shoot and spread the floor, but [his defense] has been a pleasant surprise."
Even so, Miller still shoots. And shoots. And shoots.
"He's a gym rat - he is in the gym all the time, before practice and after practice," Wittman said. "I think that's why he created the career he has."
Miller affirmed this as well. "Growing up in South Dakota, my only option [if] I wanted to make the next level was to spend a lot of time in the gym."
"His mission is to be the greatest shooter on the planet," said a smiling Bickerstaff. Then seriously, he added, "I've never seen a guy be in the gym as often and consistent as he has been."
"A lot of people shoot thousands of shots, but it's how many you make," Miller contends. "The one thing I always focused on the last 6-7 years of my NBA career was that I've done the same drills every day."
One of his favorite shooting drills is "plus-minus."
