In two weeks, Reggie Miller, who has worked as a TNT basketball commentator since 2005, will call his first NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans. Until then, Miller—one of the most prolific shooting guards in NBA history with the Indiana Pacers—continues his work on TNT’s Thursday night coverage of the league. Miller got with VIBE.com to speak on the Super scene out in the Grand Canyon State.
VIBE: So, I understand this is the second year you’ve been in the Super Bowl’s host city for an NBA game on the Thursday before the big game.
Miller: Yeah, it’s wild out here, brother! There’s so many people. I’d never been to a Super Bowl before last year in Miami. We worked [a Miami Heat game] the Thursday before Super Bowl Weekend.
Are you a big football fan or…?
I grew up in Los Angeles in Riverside so I was a Raiders fan growing up. But after my time in Indiana [with the Pacers], the Indianapolis Colts are my adopted team. If there’s anyone I have allegiance to, it’s the Colts.
Right. So, you must be rooting against the Patriots right now. Tell me you’re not picking them to win on Sunday. [laughs]
And, FYI, you’re talking to a Giants fan.
You know what? I’m going with you guys. I’m going with the Giants in the upset! 28-24, baby.
You don’t have to say that just ‘cause I said I’m a Giants fan.
I’m going with a little bit of [Eli] Manning!
What do you think the Giants have to do to win?
No turnovers, score when they’re in the red zone and score touchdowns because you’re not going to beat the Patriots with field goals. Eli can’t force the issue but you’ve got to score in the red zone.
Alright, cool. Way to take a stand. So, in less than a month, the NBA All-Star jumps off in New Orleans. You ready?
I’m excited! I’m calling all the festivities on Saturday night during All-Star Weekend—the three-point competition, the skills contest and the slam dunk contest. And, on Sunday, I’m calling my first All-Star Game with Marv Albert and Doug Collins.
For the folks who haven’t been keeping up with the first half of the NBA season, who’s been your biggest surprise?
Well, obviously the biggest surprise would be the New Orleans Hornets. [Point guard] Chris Paul has played at an MVP clip. I knew they were good but right now they have the best record in the Western Conference. If you would have told me that through the halfway point in the season, the Hornets would have the best record in the West over Phoenix, Dallas and San Antonio, I would have asked you what you were smoking.
Right. What about the Eastern Conference?
When you say surprises, surprises can also be the Miami Heat. [laughs] If I knew they were going to be this bad…As well as the Chicago Bulls! I had Chicago winning the East.
[sighs] So did VIBE…
But I’m curious to see who’s going to make that seventh or eighth spot in the East. I will say this: If Chicago gets that eighth spot and I’m Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics, I’m a little worried. That’s a scary team to be in the eighth spot.
Has KG been your MVP to this point?
I like what he’s done to bring back Celtic Nation. Kevin will probably end up winning it but if you’re asking me my opinion right now? I would have to go with…Triple-Ocho! Kobe Bean Bryant. He asked to be traded last summer. He threw Andrew Bynum under the bus. At the start of training camp, he was at odds with the general manager and owner of the Lakers. But he swallows all that and when you look up, the Lakers have the fourth or fifth best record in the West. If the team continues to win and has one of the top four records in the West at the end of the season, Kobe should be MVP.
Wow. Okay, let’s cut to the chase: Who’s winning it all this season?
I’ll give you my final four—the Detroit Pistons versus the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and the San Antonio Spurs versus the Los Angeles Lakers in the West, assuming [injured center] Andrew Bynum is healthy. If not the Lakers, then the Hornets. I’ve got the Celtics in seven against Detroit, the Spurs in the West and the Spurs repeating. They’ve never repeated. This may be the time they repeat and get into the same discussion as the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics and be considered a dynasty.
Cool. Anything else for the VIBE.com readers?
Go Giants!
[laughs] That’s right.
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