Reggie Miller will return to Madison Square Garden nearly 29 years after his legendary performance in the same building, and he has a gentle warning for New York Knicks fan.
“Just know, the Boogeyman is coming back to town to start the game,” Miller said half-jokingly during an interview on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Monday. “I am going to.”
Miller, the former Pacer great, who famously tormented the Knicks during his playing days, will serve as an analyst for the TNT team calling Game 2 of Wednesday’s Eastern Conference semifinal series between Indiana and New York at Madison Square Garden.
Although Miller vowed he wouldn’t show “any bias” toward the Pacers, the Hall of Famer didn’t expect a warm welcome at MSG.
“I’m sure I’m going to hear the chants, I’m sure I’m going to hear all that trash talk,” he said. “I’m fine with that, but I’m there to do a job, to organize a match. I’m sure it will be a great series.”
Indiana and New York faced each other six times in the postseason over an eight-year period from 1992 to 2000, with Miller frequently playing the villain at Madison Square Garden, where he frequently feuded with players and Knicks fans.
Miller’s most memorable MSG moment came on May 7, 1995, when he scored eight points in the final nine seconds to help the Pacers win 107-105 in Game 1 of the conference semifinals. He produced another all-time performance in Game 5 of the 1994 conference finals, when he scored 25 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter while exchanging words with superfan Spike Lee’s Knicks.
Miller confirmed Monday that he has mended his relationship with Lee, saying they “put a lot of our burdens under the bridge” despite being “forever attached.” But the five-time All-Star is expected to become the target of fan ire as the Pacers-Knicks rivalry is renewed.
“I would be surprised during the game if I didn’t hear ‘Reggie sucks,'” Miller said. “Actually, I’d be a little hurt if I didn’t hear ‘Reggie sucks.’ I kind of want that.”
Miller, 58, played his entire 18-year career with the Pacers and is the franchise’s all-time leader in multiple categories, including points, assists, 3-pointers, steals and games attempted. play. The Pacers and Knicks have played to an even 3-3 mark in the six postseason series in which Miller has starred.
The Pacers could have used some late-game heroics from Miller on Monday in Game 1, when they squandered a nine-point fourth-quarter lead in a rout Lost 121-117 including many controversial calls at the last minute.
