Longtime NBA center Oliver Miller has sadly passed away at just 54, according to the National Basketball Retired Players Association (Twitter link).
No official cause of death has been revealed, but Miller tweeted late last month that he was battling from cancer.
Miller was selected with the No. 22 overall pick out of Arkansas by the Suns in 1992. As a rookie, he became a critical bench player during MVP Charles Barkley‘s inaugural season in Phoenix, when the club advanced to the 1993 NBA Finals. The team lost in six games to Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen‘s Bulls, who were capping off their first three-peat.
Across a nine-season NBA career, Miller suited up for the Pistons, Raptors, Mavericks, and Kings before returning to Phoenix for the 1999/2000 season. In his 493 career NBA regular season appearances (193 starts), the 6’9″ pro recorded averages of 7.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
Between 2000-03, Miller enjoyed non-NBA pro stints in Greece, Poland, Puerto Rico, and China, along with the USBL and then-D League stateside.
Miller returned to the NBA, briefly, for the 2003/04 season, where he suited up for the Western Conference Finals-bound Timberwolves. He intermittently hopped around the D League and USBL from 2004-10 before calling it a career.
Hoops Rumors sends its deepest condolences to Miller’s family and friends.
RIP Big Country
Wasn’t Big Country Reeves from the Grizz? I think you meant Big O
Not to be confused with the great Oscar Robertson, of course
Yeah, big boy…struggled with weight in his playing days. 54 is just way young man. Bless.
Dang.
Damn, that’s a young man. Very, very sad. Much love.
I remember him from his time with the Raps. he seemed like a good dude. I wish his family all the best.
Pig? NO!
Hot Plate!
These “attempt at humor” comments on here, at the expense of this man’s passing, are truly…
expected.
RIP “O”
Rotational C, but a very high end one, despite pedestrian stats. His career was compromised by severe weight issues, which cost him not just games, but a more central role with his teams. Great hands, vision, touch around the basket and BB IQ made him a guy you would run an offense through, and his wingspon (gigantic) made hime a force on defense.