MJ was full of praise for Reggie who was one of his biggest rivals in the late '90s.
On February 25, 2003, the Washington Wizards defeated the Indiana Pacers 83-78 at Conseco Fieldhouse. That game wasn't just the final regular-season contest between the two teams; it was also the final meeting between Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller.
As always, Miller tried not to give MJ an inch of advantage, matching him with 25 points on the night. But Jordan had the better team that night, as his Wizards walked away with a tough road win. After the game, His Airness paid tribute to his rival.
"The kid has unbelievable heart," Jordan said. "And he showcases it every time he plays."
No win was easy against Reggie
Miller rallied the Pacers from a double-digit deficit at the end of the third quarter with eight fourth-quarter points. He even gave them a 74-73 lead with 2:50 left in the game. Fortunately, the Wizards recovered and managed to pull off the victory.
Including that win, Mike dominated Reg 32-17 in their career head-to-head meetings during the regular season. But MJ would be the first to tell you that none of those conquests was easy, not when Reggie was on the court with his impeccable three-point shooting and his indomitable will to win.
"He's not intimidated by anybody," Jordan added. "He feels he plays the game at as high a level as anyone else who plays the game. He came out of UCLA and no one gave him that star status. He's earned it, making big shots, playing with the type of intensity that can lift a ballclub from a loss to a win. You have to appreciate that. You've got to respect that."
Miller had doubters
While Reggie was the 11th overall pick of the 1987 NBA Draft, it was unclear at first how his seemingly frail 185-pound frame would hold up in a physical league like the NBA. Even his esteemed sister, Cheryl, admitted that she had modest expectations for Uncle Reg's NBA career.
"I didn't realize how serious and what a student of the game Reggie was," she admitted. "How he was fine-tuning and honing his skill. By the time senior year rolled around, I knew he was good. I thought he could be serviceable in the NBA. I never dreamed that he would be that assassin-like ball player and with that killer instinct."
Reggie defied all expectations, and receiving Jordan's respect after their final NBA matchup was well-deserved. Despite being overshadowed by his sister Cheryl, he rose to become a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest clutch performers in basketball history—an achievement that is nothing short of impressive.
