They continue to add chapters.
The Mitchell native and his Miami teammates will try to defend that title as the NBA Finals start tonight on ABC. Game 1 in the best-of-seven series starts at 8 tonight in Miami as the Heat play San Antonio.
Last year, Miller carried Miami to the title when in the deciding Game 5, Miller buried seven of eight three-pointers to finish with 23 points. It was one of the best and most memorable performances in the history of the NBA Finals.
"We are very proud of Mike," said Mike's uncle Alan Miller by phone on Wednesday from the Miller family home base of Mitchell. "He was certainly blessed, being 6-foot-8 and an exceptional athlete, but he also has worked so hard to develop his skills over the the years. We as a family watch most of his games, and we cheer pretty hard for him."
Brothers Tom, Chris and Alan Miller come from a family of 11, they are the ones who started this basketball odyssey. The numbers they put up at Dakota Wesleyan alone were legendary, but it becomes crazy incredible when you add in the rest of the Miller family.
By my count in college, the Millers have scored a combined 11,766. The Millers could start their own 1,000-point scoring list:
Tom Miller: Scored 1,405 points for Dakota Wesleyan from 1967-71. Tom is Mike's dad and Alan's brother.
Chris Miller: Scored 1,863 points for DWU from 1971-75. Chris and brother Tom made Northern State's basketball life miserable at times during their run for the rival Tigers.
Alan Miller: Scored 2,920 points for DWU from 1981-85. I remember the night Alan scored 55 points against Augustana College. It was one of the most incredible performances I have seen in my 30-plus years in the business.
Ryan Miller: Scored 1,802 points for NSU from 1994-98. On March 8, 1998, Miller led the Wolves to one of their greatest wins in program history when he scored 45 in NSU's 88-82 win over South Dakota State in Brookings to send NSU to the national Elite Eight. Ryan scored the last nine points of the game for NSU, which trailed 73-68 with 6:31 to play. NSU made 17 three-pointers, nine by Ryan and three by brother Jared. They are Tom's sons and Mike's brothers.
Jared Miller: Scored 1,316 points for NSU and Southwest Minnesota State from 1997-01.
Mike Miller: Scored 865 points for the University of Florida from 1998-00.
Jordan Miller: Scored 1,563 points for Southwest Minnesota State from 2009-13 and started all 115 games over four years as one of the best players in the tough Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Son of Alan, cousin to Mike.
Jade Miller: Scored 59 points last season as a freshman for DWU where he will be a sophomore this fall. A very solid, all-around player who provided the Tigers with valuable minutes last season. Son of Alan, cousin to Mike.
Macy Miller: One of the best high school players in the state, Macy will be a senior at Mitchell this fall. She will continue her basketball career at South Dakota State, where she will add to the Miller legacy. Daughter of Alan, cousin to Mike.
There have been others in the Miller family who have played college basketball for a few years as well.
Amazing.
John Papendick is the managing news-sports editor for the American News: jpapendick@aberdeennews.com.
Twitter: @jpapendick