Latest news with #SouthwestConferencePlayeroftheYear
NBC Sports
13-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Oliver Miller, center who helped Arkansas reach Final Four and played 9 NBA seasons, dies at 54
Oliver Miller, a beefy center who helped Arkansas advance to the Final Four before playing nine seasons in the NBA, has died. He was 54. Several of Miller's former teams announced his death on Wednesday, as did the National Basketball Retired Players Association. A cause of death was not disclosed, but Arkansas had announced during an event honoring its 1990 Final Four team that Miller had cancer, and Miller thanked the team for its video tribute to him while posting it on social media last month. Means alot. Still n tears. #WPS Known as the 'The Big O' for his 6-foot-9, 280-pound frame that ballooned to well over 300 pounds during his NBA career, Miller was a standout at Arkansas from 1988-92. He averaged 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in four seasons, helping Naismith Hall of Fame coach Nolan Richardson's 1989-90 team reach the Final Four before losing to Duke and earning Southwest Conference Player of the Year honors in 1991. 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of Arkansas legend Oliver Miller,' Arkansas said in a social media post. 'A key member of the 1990 Final Four team, an SWC Hall of Famer, a first-round NBA draft pick and a true embodiment of the Razorback spirit. We love you Big O. Our thoughts are with his family.' Miller was drafted by Phoenix in 1992 with the No. 22 overall pick. He went on to average 7.4 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Suns, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves. Rest in Peace, Big O 💜🧡 He also played in Europe, the Continental Basketball Association, the United States Basketball League and with the Harlem Globetrotters. The Raptors held a moment of silence for Miller before their home game Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. Miller was selected by Toronto as the last pick of the 1995 expansion draft. 'He holds a special place in our history as a member of our inaugural team in 1995, and we are so grateful for all his contributions,' the Raptors said on social media. 'We send our deepest condolences to the Miller family.'
CBS News
13-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Oliver Miller, former Arkansas star and NBA player, dead at 54
Oliver Miller, a beefy center who helped Arkansas advance to the Final Four before playing nine seasons in the NBA, has died. He was 54. Several of Miller's former teams announced his death on Wednesday, as did the National Basketball Retired Players Association. A cause of death was not disclosed, but Arkansas had announced during an event honoring its 1990 Final Four team that Miller had cancer, and Miller thanked the team for its video tribute to him while posting it on social media last month. "The basketball community has lost a Legend," the National Basketball Retired Players Association wrote on social media. "Our hearts are with the family, friends and fans of Oliver Miller." Known as the "The Big O" for his 6-foot-9, 280-pound frame that ballooned to well over 300 pounds during his NBA career, Miller was a standout at Arkansas from 1988-92. He averaged 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in four seasons, helping Naismith Hall of Fame coach Nolan Richardson's 1989-90 team reach the Final Four before losing to Duke and earning Southwest Conference Player of the Year honors in 1991. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Arkansas legend Oliver Miller," Arkansas said in a social media post. "A key member of the 1990 Final Four team, an SWC Hall of Famer, a first-round NBA draft pick and a true embodiment of the Razorback spirit. We love you Big O. Our thoughts are with his family." Current Arkansas men's basketball coach John Calipari also paid tribute to Miller on social media. "One of the most kind hearted people that was a competitor and a champion," Calipari wrote. "Wish I could have gotten to know him better. Prayers to Big O and his family. RIP" Miller was drafted by Phoenix in 1992 with the No. 22 overall pick. He went on to average 7.4 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Suns, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves. He also played in Europe, the Continental Basketball Association, the United States Basketball League and with the Harlem Globetrotters. The Raptors held a moment of silence for Miller before their home game Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. Miller was selected by Toronto as the last pick of the 1995 expansion draft. "He holds a special place in our history as a member of our inaugural team in 1995, and we are so grateful for all his contributions," the Raptors said on social media. "We send our deepest condolences to the Miller family."
Express Tribune
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Former NBA center Oliver Miller dies at 54
Oliver Miller, the former Arkansas standout who played nine seasons in the NBA, has died at the age of 54. Several of his former teams, along with the National Basketball Retired Players Association, confirmed his passing on Wednesday. While the cause of death was not disclosed, Arkansas had previously announced that Miller was battling cancer. Last month, he acknowledged the team's video tribute to him on social media. Nicknamed "The Big O" for his imposing 6-foot-9, 280-pound frame— which later exceeded 300 pounds during his professional career— Miller made his mark at Arkansas from 1988 to 1992. He averaged 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds over four seasons, playing a key role in guiding Hall of Fame coach Nolan Richardson's 1989-90 team to the Final Four. In 1991, he was named Southwest Conference Player of the Year. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Arkansas legend Oliver Miller," Arkansas stated in a social media post. "A key member of the 1990 Final Four team, an SWC Hall of Famer, a first-round NBA draft pick, and a true embodiment of the Razorback spirit. We love you, Big O. Our thoughts are with his family." Miller was selected 22nd overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 1992 NBA Draft. Over his career, he averaged 7.4 points and 5.9 rebounds while playing for the Suns, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, and Minnesota Timberwolves. His basketball journey also took him to Europe, the Continental Basketball Association, the United States Basketball League, and even a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters. The Toronto Raptors, who selected Miller in the 1995 expansion draft, honored him with a moment of silence before their game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. "He holds a special place in our history as a member of our inaugural team in 1995, and we are so grateful for all his contributions," the Raptors posted on social media. "We send our deepest condolences to the Miller family."
Reuters
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Former Arkansas, NBA C Oliver Miller dies at 54
March 13 - Oliver Miller, who starred at center for Arkansas ahead of a lengthy NBA career, died at age 54, the National Basketball Retired Players Association announced on Wednesday. No cause of death was stated. He played nine seasons in the NBA for six teams, including three seasons each with the Phoenix Suns and the Toronto Raptors. Miller was the Southwest Conference Player of the Year for the Razorbacks as a junior in 1990-91, when he averaged 15.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and a national-best 2.9 blocked shots per game. A season earlier, he put up 11.1 points and 6.3 boards per game as Arkansas advanced to the Final Four, where it lost to Duke. Arkansas athletics tweeted on Wednesday, "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Arkansas legend Oliver Miller. A key member of the 1990 Final Four team, an SWC Hall of Famer, a first round NBA draft pick and a true embodiment of the Razorback spirit. We love you Big O. Our thoughts are with his family." Selected by Phoenix with the 22nd overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft, Miller also appeared in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons, the Raptors, the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings and the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 493 career NBA games (196 starts), Miller averaged 7.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 blocks. His best season was 1995-96 with Toronto, when he contributed 12.9 points, 7.4 boards, 2.9 assists and 1.9 blocks per contest.
Fox Sports
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Oliver Miller, center who helped Arkansas reach Final Four, dies at 54
Oliver Miller, a beefy center who helped Arkansas advance to the Final Four before playing nine seasons in the NBA, has died. He was 54. Several of Miller's former teams announced his death on Wednesday, as did the National Basketball Retired Players Association. A cause of death was not disclosed, but Arkansas had announced during an event honoring its 1990 Final Four team that Miller had cancer, and Miller thanked the team for its video tribute to him while posting it on social media last month. Known as the "The Big O" for his 6-foot-9, 280-pound frame that ballooned to well over 300 pounds during his NBA career, Miller was a standout at Arkansas from 1988-92. He averaged 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in four seasons, helping Naismith Hall of Fame coach Nolan Richardson's 1989-90 team reach the Final Four before losing to Duke and earning Southwest Conference Player of the Year honors in 1991. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Arkansas legend Oliver Miller," Arkansas said in a social media post. "A key member of the 1990 Final Four team, an SWC Hall of Famer, a first-round NBA draft pick and a true embodiment of the Razorback spirit. We love you Big O. Our thoughts are with his family." Miller was drafted by Phoenix in 1992 with the No. 22 overall pick. He went on to average 7.4 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Suns, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves. He also played in Europe, the Continental Basketball Association, the United States Basketball League and with the Harlem Globetrotters. The Raptors held a moment of silence for Miller before their home game Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. Miller was selected by Toronto as the last pick of the 1995 expansion draft. "He holds a special place in our history as a member of our inaugural team in 1995, and we are so grateful for all his contributions," the Raptors said on social media. "We send our deepest condolences to the Miller family." Reporting by The Associated Press. recommended Get more from College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
