Oliver Miller, a sturdy heart that helped Arkansas to advance on the Final Four earlier than enjoying 9 seasons within the NBA, died. He was 54 years previous.
Many of Miller’s former groups introduced his demise on Wednesday, in addition to the National Basketball Retized Players Association. A explanation for demise was not disclosed, however Arkansas had introduced throughout an occasion in honor of his 1990 last workforce that Miller had most cancers and Miller thanked the workforce for his free video to him whereas he printed him on social media final month.
Known as “The Big or” for his 6-foot and 9 pound body he mounted over 300 kilos throughout his profession within the NBA, Miller has been one of many foremost at Arkansas since 1988-92. He scored on common 12.2 factors and 6.5 rebounds in 4 seasons, serving to the 1989-90 Naismith Hall of Fame workforce of Nalan Richardson to achieve the Final Four earlier than shedding towards Duke and incomes honors of the Southwest Conference Player of the Year in 1991.
“We are deeply saddened by the disappearance of the legend of the Arkansas Oliver Miller,” Arkansas mentioned in a publish on social media. “A key member of the 1990 Final Four workforce, a Hall of Famer SWC, a selection of the NBA Draft within the first spherical and an actual type of realization of the spirit of Razorback. We love you Big O. Our ideas are along with his household.”
Miller was drawn up by Phoenix in 1992 with the general selection n. 22. On common 7.4 factors and 5.9 rebounds for the Suns, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves. He additionally performed in Europe, the Continental Basketball Association, the United States Basketball League and with the Harlem Globetrotters.
The Raptors held a second of silence for Miller earlier than their residence recreation on Wednesday night towards the Philadelphia 76ers. Miller was chosen by Toronto because the final selection of the 1995 growth draft.
“He has a particular place in our historical past as a member of our inaugural workforce in 1995 and we’re so grateful for all his contributions,” mentioned the Raptors on social media. “We ship our most condolences to the Miller household.”
Reporting by the Associated Press.
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