Behind Reggie Miller’s extraordinary basketball career stood two remarkable parents whose influence shaped not only him but an entire family of elite athletes.
Reginald Wayne Miller carved out one of the most memorable careers in NBA history during his 18 seasons with the Indiana Pacers.
Born on August 24, 1965, Miller established himself as one of basketball’s greatest shooters, earning the nickname “Knick Killer” for his clutch performances against the New York Knicks.
The five-time All-Star’s precision three-point shooting in pressure situations became legendary, particularly his famous “eight points in nine seconds” performance against New York in 1995.
Miller led the Pacers to their only NBA Finals appearance in 2000, where they faced the Los Angeles Lakers.
Throughout his career, he held the NBA record for most career three-pointers made until Ray Allen surpassed him.
The Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team retired holding numerous shooting records and led the league in free throw percentage five times.
His jersey number 31 was retired by the Pacers in 2006, cementing his legacy as the franchise’s greatest player.
The Miller Parents Raised Their Children With Firm Expectations, Humor, And Musical Flair
Saul and Carrie Miller created a household in Riverside, California, that produced multiple All-American athletes, including NBA Hall of Famer Reggie, WNBA Hall of Famer Cheryl, Major League Baseball player Darrell, college volleyball player Tammy, and musician Saul Jr.
Saul Miller brought a unique combination of athletic prowess, musical talent, and military discipline to his role as a father.
Growing up as one of eight children in Memphis, Tennessee, Saul came from a family with deep roots in both music and faith.
His father served as a well-known pastor who had the honor of ordaining Aretha Franklin’s father, among many others.
During his younger years in Memphis, Saul demonstrated exceptional athletic ability, setting the basketball scoring record at Hamilton High School that lasted 30 years until future NBA player Darren Daye broke it.
He earned All-American honors in high school basketball and continued his athletic career at LeMoyne College before transferring to Southern Illinois for two seasons.
However, his basketball career was interrupted when he was drafted into the Air Force.
Saul’s musical talents ran parallel to his athletic achievements. As a jazz musician, he played saxophone with legendary performers including B.B. King, Lionel Hampton, and Ike Turner.
He even shared the stage with Ray Charles during a concert in Atlanta and contributed as a backup musician on two recordings.
His late wife Carrie once described him to the Los Angeles Times as “a handsome thing,” noting that “all the girls had their eyes on Saul.“
The military significantly shaped Saul’s character and parenting philosophy.
He served 25 years in the Air Force, rising to the rank of chief master sergeant while working with computer technology from its early punch card days.
His dedication to service and education led him to earn a master’s degree in computer technology.
After his military career, he spent seven years as the director of computer operations at Riverside Community Hospital.
Saul’s parenting style blended his military discipline with his natural charisma and musical flair.
The IndyStar described him as “relaxed, blunt, funny, eternally hip and kind-hearted” while noting his admitted nature as “a ham.”
This combination of traits clearly influenced Reggie’s confidence and flair on the basketball court, including his legendary trash-talking ability, which originated from games of H-O-R-S-E with his father on their backyard court.
The disciplinary structure Saul established in the Miller household was unwavering.
All five children maintained clean rooms with beds always made, earned good grades to remain eligible for sports, and followed a regimented routine.
His approach was firm but fair, as Reggie recalled:
“He never pushed you into anything, but if you messed up you paid the consequences.”
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On the other hand, Carrie Miller provided the emotional foundation and organizational backbone that allowed the family’s athletic pursuits to flourish.
Growing up in Florida, she attended nursing school in Atlanta, where she met Saul through his sister Julia, who was her classmate.
Their meeting began what Carrie laughingly described as “a long friendship” that became a 30-year marriage.
As a registered nurse who worked in a Memphis hospital, Carrie brought medical knowledge and caregiving instincts to her role as mother.
While she didn’t participate in organized sports herself, she had played baseball with her brothers, giving her an understanding of athletic competition that would prove valuable in raising five athletic children.
Carrie’s organizational skills became essential in managing a household where five children competed in various sports, sometimes simultaneously, in different parts of the country.
The Millers maintained a large calendar devoted exclusively to their children’s athletic schedules, and Carrie would check it daily to coordinate who would attend which events.
She ensured that at least one family member attended each child’s game, often requiring quick departures to travel to the next event.
The partnership between Carrie and Saul created a unified front that their children respected and emulated.
Carrie emphasized that “the togetherness that Saul and I displayed when the children were growing up” was crucial to their family’s success.
This unity fostered incredible closeness among the siblings, who would challenge each other to improve and provide advice and support.
Carrie’s dedication to her children’s success extended to the countless hours of washing uniforms, preparing food for entire teams, and making long drives on California freeways to attend games.
She approached these tasks with unwavering commitment, stating,
“It’s all worth it because they’re all doing positive things. They’re worth everything we do for them.”
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The family’s commitment to faith remained central to Carrie’s parenting philosophy.
She firmly believed that church attendance was “a must,” explaining,
“We need that guidance to keep everything in perspective.”
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This spiritual foundation helped the family navigate the pressures and temptations that came with athletic success.
Reggie Miller’s gratitude to his parents remained evident throughout his career and beyond.
During his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2012, he thanked his father:
“Dad, you made sure we had shoes, gloves, bats, balls, socks, all while serving your country for 26 years in the Air Force. When Cheryl and I played in high school, normally my dad would be at Cheryl’s game… and my mom would be at my games. You guys always found time. You made time to be there for all of us.”
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When Saul Miller passed away, Reggie’s tribute on Instagram revealed the depth of his father’s influence:
“The man who bought me my first set of baseball cleats, first basketball, who taught me to drown out all the outside noise and FOCUS is now and will forever be my guardian angel. Thanks Pops for EVERYTHING!!! Say hello to Mom for us, know that your teachings will live on through me to my kids.”
Indystar
The Miller parents created more than successful athletes; they raised individuals who understood the importance of discipline, education, faith, and family.
Their approach to parenting combined high expectations with unwavering support, military precision with loving encouragement, and individual achievement with family unity.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Reggie Miller was born with hip deformities that prevented him from walking correctly, requiring him to wear braces on both legs for several years until his leg strength developed enough to compensate.
- Miller’s unorthodox shooting style was specifically developed to arc his shot over his sister Cheryl’s constant shot blocking during their childhood games of one-on-one.
- Around 1996, near the end of that season, when he suffered an eye injury, Miller hosted a talk show called “The Reggie Miller Show” on the WTHR television station.
