Reggie Miller was one of the defining players of the 1990s and cemented himself as a bonafide legend. The Pacers legend’s shooting became an attribute everyone strived to emulate and the Indiana star became one of the brightest talents in the league.
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Post his career also, Miller continued to build on to his burgeoning reputation in the basketball community. As a pundit with the Turner Sports Network, the Hall of Famer remains a popular figure who is adored in the NBA circles.
To understand the respect held within the NBA community for Miller, an anecdote involving Kobe Bryant would arguably be best. Bryant burst into the scene as a young talented shooting guard, around the time Miller was an established star in the league. Beyond positions, the duo shared something in common – their agent Arn Tellem.
Arn Tellem clearly must have seen something in young Kobe for him to entrust the young guard to his high-profile client. Tellem requested Miller to help out the young prodigy who had signed with his agency. And Miller, in his terms, a senior statesman, gladly obliged.
How did Miller and Kobe interact under Arn Tellem’s directions?
Miller took young Kobe under his wing while the youngster was coming into the league. The two shooting guards engaged in various conversations, with Kobe soaking up Miller’s advice.
Reggie was probably the bridge between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in the hierarchy of shooting guards in the league. With Kobe being a die-hard Air Jordan fan, Miller’s familiarity with MJ must definitely have been a topic of conversation.
“I felt I really helped raise this young man. Kobe was 17 or 18 when he joined Arn Tellem, at the time, our agent. And I just vividly remember the conversation because I was one of the senior statesmen of the agency. You really want me to kind of talk and mentor Kobe, this young, flashy Philadelphia kid coming in. And to tell him, show him, and direct him down the right NBA path. And I was like, sure, I’m down for that. So, I had a lot of conversations with young Kobe” revealed Miller about his mentorship sessions with Kobe.
Having someone like Reggie Miller as a go-to mentor is a blessing for any youngster. Arn Teller certainly knew what he was getting his clients into.
How were Miller and Kobe connected in a way through Michael Jordan?
Reggie Miller had broken out as a star in the league while Michael Jordan was the best player in the league. Being from the same position, their encounters often became major narratives.
This familiarity and the “Black Jesus” anecdote spoke loudly about Miller’s familiarity with Jordan. And for Kobe, a devotee of Michael Jordan, those words would have sounded out louder.
These three shooting guards arguably filled the role of the best shooting guard in the league at their peaks. Three era-defining superstars bonded by their competitive spirit and desire to win. Quite the triumvirate to pick up the art from.
