Mike Miller

Described as being “in awe” by his head coach after a quiet first half against the NBA’s then-No. 1-ranked team, Mike Miller entertained a brief pep talk before returning from the tunnel prepared to provide some amazement of his own. With his aggression noticeably higher during a nine-shot third quarter, the celebrated sharpshooter puts his shot creation skills to the test against Aaron McKie, sizing the respected defender up with a powerful dribble down the right baseline. Using McKie’s momentum against him, Miller works a blur-quick spin back middle before scooping a high-arced finish over Theo Ratliff’s expansive reach. Designing a moment that he’d ultimately deem the highlight of his 2000-01 Rookie of the Year campaign, Miller offered the Philadelphia 76ers’ fifth-ranked defense more than they could handle, scoring 16 of his 24 points in the third period, alongside three rebounds, two assists, five 3-pointers, and a game-high +15 plus-minus across 46 minutes. Miller’s Magic dug deep in a double-overtime affair on February 2, 2001, defeating the Eastern Conference’s eventual NBA Finals representative. The win marked the Orlando Magic’s third-straight victory — a stretch that would ultimately reach nine — carving their path for the East’s No. 7 seed and 43 wins.

Rookie of the Year

Rookie Year

Top Shot Debut