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NBA Draft: 30 greatest draft picks in league history

By Josh Cornelissen

Larry Bird, Boston Celtics, Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Tom Herde/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Larry Bird, Boston Celtics, Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Tom Herde/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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Reggie Miller, UCLA Bruins
Reggie Miller, UCLA Bruins. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Shooting Guard. UCLA Bruins, 1987 (No. 11). Reggie Miller. 15. player. 100.

Greatest NBA Draft picks in league history: Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers

A California native, Reggie Miller attended UCLA and ended his time there second in career scoring behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In 1987, he was the No. 11 pick by the Indiana Pacers, a selection unpopular with Pacers fans because Indiana Hoosiers guard Steve Alford was still on the board.

Miller quickly won the fans over, pushing the Pacers into the playoffs with regularity and proving himself to be a special scorer. In May 1995, he queued up one of the most iconic sequences in NBA history, scoring eight points in nine seconds of game time to propel the Pacers to a comeback victory over the hated New York Knicks.

While Miller was never able to bring a title to Indiana, he was a high-level player for the franchise for 18 seasons. His accolades are a weaker part of his résumé, as he made just three All-NBA Teams and five NBA All-Star Games.

Yet, Miller elevated his play in the postseason and is underrated for how he elevated his entire team. His shooting ability and gravity opened up countless opportunities for his teammates. The greatest Pacer in franchise history was well worth the pick.