Reggie Miller is the king of the 1990s Indiana Pacers. However, a specific point guard helped the sharpshooter overcome his rivalry with the New York Knicks. The NBA universe celebrated the Pacers legend's 60th birthday.
Mark Jackson aided the Pacers as the pass-first point guard for six seasons, providing advantageous intel exposing their Eastern Conference rival, the Knicks. Jackson played 405 regular-season games with the Pacers and 74 competitive postseason matches with the Miller-led team.
In addition to his contributions to the Pacers, he ranks sixth all-time in assists on the NBA leaderboard. Jackson was all-team, focusing more on improving his squad rather than honing in on individual success. However, Jackson's cupboard isn't empty, as he earned the Rookie of the Year award in 1988 and was selected as an NBA All-Star in 1989.
Miller doesn't need assistance in talking up his game, but Jackson, as a great teammate of the NBA Legend, insists on putting the Pacers' franchise icon on the pedestal every chance he gets.
Jackson once stated that Madison Square Garden should have a statue of the Knicks' nemesis, Miller.
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"To me, it's criminal - when you look at, whether it be Madison Square Garden or Indiana to not have a statue - especially in Indiana, to not have a statue of Reggie Miller outside of that building is a crime," Jackson once said.
Jackson understands what it means to represent the Pacers and how to treat Miller as the franchise's defining player.
Although many young fans see him as the former Golden State Warriors coach and the once-celebrated color commentator for ESPN, known for catchphrases and his banter with Jeff Van Gundy, Pacers fans perceive him as the point guard who helped Miller succeed vs. the Knicks.
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This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 3:42 PM.