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| Miller |
ORLANDO, Fla. – A year removed from one of the toughest
decisions of his life, Mike Miller stood on the podium and accepted
the trophy as NBA Rookie of the Year.
It felt good. But it would be a stretch to say it was satisfying
because a lot of people questioned whether he should have turned
pro last summer after just two seasons at the University of
Florida.
"Everybody's going to have their own opinion, and maybe their
opinions were right. Maybe I would have been better next year,"
the Orlando Magic swingman said Thursday. "But it was going to be
a transition regardless.
"You've just got to be mentally and physically prepared to
learn the whole season. If you do that, and take everything in,
you'll be fine."
Filling in for injured All-Star Grant Hill, Miller was the only
rookie to appear in all of his team's games and beat out New
Jersey's Kenyon Martin and Golden State's Marc Jackson for the
league's top newcomer award.
The fifth overall pick in the 2000 draft averaged 11.9 points, 4
rebounds, 1.7 assists and 29.1 minutes. Among rookies, he ranked in
the top seven in six statistical categories, including first in
3-point field goal percentage and third in scoring.
"I think we all knew he could shoot the basketball. We saw that
at the University of Florida," Magic coach Doc Rivers said. "I
didn't know he was as competitive as he turned out to be, and I
really think that was what pushed him over the edge."
The 21-year-old player who helped Florida to the 2000 NCAA
championship game as a sophomore received 75 of a possible 124
votes from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters.
Martin had 36 points and Jackson 7. Toronto's Morris Peterson
and the Los Angeles Clippers' Darius Miles got three votes apiece.
Miller started 62 games, moving into the lineup full time in
December after Hill announced he would not return because of an
ankle injury that's limited him to four games since last year's
playoffs.
The 6-foot-8 Miller averaged 14 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.9
assists and 33.4 minutes as a starter, taking some of the offensive
load off leading scorer Tracy McGrady. Miller and McGrady, who won the NBA Most Improved Player Award, are the first teammates to win the rookie award and most improved in the same season.
"You always shoot for the highest goals as a rookie, but I was
lucky to be put in a situation where I was learning from Grant and
Tracy," Miller said, adding that he also appreciated the support
he received from Rivers. "I don't think people understand that
coming in as a rookie is a lot harder than people assume.
"Having a coach that has confidence in you makes the transition
a lot easier. I've been blessed to be in situations with great
coaches. My game matured under Coach (Billy) Donovan at Florida. I
came here and Coach Rivers has taught me even more about the
game."
Miller is the first Magic player to be voted rookie of the year
since Shaquille O'Neal entered the league during the 1992-93
season. He's not sure he would have been able to win the award
playing for any other team -- or if his role hadn't increased
because of Hill's injury.
"Coming to Florida is the best thing I could have ever done,"
said Miller, who grew up in Mitchell, S.D. "And staying in Florida
was the best thing that could have happened to me."
The Magic think so, too.
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