Oliver Miller (1970–2025), nine-year NBA veteran
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2 min readOliver Miller was a University of Arkansas star and Southwest Conference Player of the Year who went on to a nine-year career in the NBA.
- Died: March 12, 2025 (Who else died on March 12?)
- Details of death: Died while fighting brain cancer at the age of 54.
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Oliver Miller’s legacy
Miller made his time at the University of Arkansas count. Playing with the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1988 to 1992, he established a reputation as a center with big court presence and adept passing skills, helping lead the team to the Final Four in 1990 and earning Southwest Conference Player of the Year honors that year. He was also tournament MVP in 1991 and went to three straight championships from ’89 to ’91. During his four years there, the Razorbacks went 115-24, with Miller establishing – and still holding – the school record for blocked shots and scoring percentage.
Miller’s college performance led to the Phoenix Suns choosing him in Round One of the 1992 draft. This launched a nine-year NBA career that saw him spending time with the Suns (twice), Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors (also twice), Dallas Mavericks, and Sacramento Kings. Miller was beloved as an on-court “big man,” a guy known for playing hard. Over the years, he racked up 758 blocked shots, 2,893 rebounds, and over 3,600 points.
Following his days with the NBA, Miller bounced around between various leagues, playing overseas in Italy and Greece, briefly becoming a Harlem Globetrotter, competing in independent basketball leagues, then with several American Basketball Association teams. He also made a brief NBA comeback in 2003 for a lone season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Miller retired in 2010 after less than a year in the Premier Basketball League.
Tributes to Oliver Miller
Full obituary: The New York Times
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