Knicks fans welcomed Reggie Miller back to Madison Square Garden, this time not as a player but as an announcer, and as you can guess, the crowd showed much love to their favorite player... not.
On the TNT broadcast, Miller stared into the camera saying, "I know people are like, 'aren't you worried about going back to New York City and calling the game?' No! I've owned this city and I've owned this building, so why would I be worried about walking on out there."
?I?ve owned this city. I?ve owned this building. So why would I be worried about walking on out there?? ?@ReggieMillerTNT is BACK in MSG tonight for Pacers-Knicks pic.twitter.com/gCgjZVg45a
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 8, 2024
Towards the end of the Knicks 130-121 Game 2 win, the crowd was heard chanting "F you" to the former Pacers player, who is certainly used to it, as he had been booed for six playoff series throughout the 1990's in that same arena.
Josh Hart, 19 points and 15 rebounds, walked over to the announcer table with 22.5 seconds left in the game, to tell Miller what the crowd was chanting, "I'm not sure if you heard, but I think they saying 'F*** you.'" And this was heard on the TV broadcast.
Josh Hart told Reggie Miller "I'm not sure but I think they said f*ck you" ? pic.twitter.com/uST1B74yDH
— Kicks (@kicks) May 9, 2024
Not only that, Miller's old rival Spike Lee, Oscar-winning film director, had him sign framed newspaper articles from the 90's, as they remembered their shared rivalry together.
Spike Lee and Reggie Miller reunite before Game 2 at MSG pic.twitter.com/PSQ8ysCJST
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 9, 2024
One of the most iconic moments in NBA history is when Miller took over in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals in MSG, scoring 25 fourth-quarter points. This was the game that the Pacers sharpshooter famously gave Spike the "choke signal" before hitting a long three-pointer, and then afterwards telling the notorious courtside Knicks fan to "shut up," as he helped lead Indiana to win 93-86. However, the Knicks went on to win the series 4-3.
25 years ago today, @ReggieMillerTNT let Spike Lee know that the Knicks were choking. pic.twitter.com/NcpzNmBn8l
— ESPN (@espn) June 1, 2019
Some might also remember Miller's remarkable performance vs. the Knicks one year later, when he scored eight points in nine seconds, making two clutch 3's to defeat the Knicks 107-105 in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Pacers won the series, 4-3.
instant classic.
on this day in 1995, Reggie Miller stunned the Knicks by scoring 8 points in 8.9 seconds to lead us to a 107-105 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals ? pic.twitter.com/etXq0oQS0b
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 7, 2024
This moment in time will not be forgotten, especially by New Yorkers, as the 18-year NBA vet, Miller stated on a social media live video while strolling the streets of NYC before the game, "I live rent free in a lot of New Yorkers' heads, and as you can see they are still mad."
In the six playoff matchups between Miller and the Knicks, the Pacers split the series, 3-3, as Miller averaged 23.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists against his rival in 35 playoff games.
Fast forward to current day, the second-seeded Knicks and sixth-seeded Pacers have proven to carry on the nostalgia of one of the best rivalries in the NBA. To point out, both franchises are longing for a championship, as the Knicks haven't won one since 1973, while the Pacers are still looking for their first.
During the first quarter, Jalen Brunson left the game with a sore right foot, but pulled a Willis Reed, returning after halftime to score 24 of his 29 points in the second half, which helped contribute to the Knicks outscoring the Pacers 36-18 in the third quarter.
Not to mention, Brunson passed Carmelo Anthony on the Knicks' franchise playoff points list (591) in Game 2, after scoring 43 in Game 1, leading New York to two straight victories at home to go up 2-0 in the series; Game 3 will be played in Indiana on Friday, May 10 at 7pm ET (ESPN).
