‘All the tears I shed in Indiana’: Why Reggie Miller didn’t come out of retirement to chase title

Pacers legend Reggie Miller joined the Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday to talk all things NBA Playoffs — along with a discussion about what could have been when Miller’s days with Indiana were done.

The Hall of Famer had been retired for two seasons when he got a call from Celtics president Danny Ainge with an offer to come play in Boston. Miller turned it down.

Why?

At the time, he said it was because life on the road would’ve been too difficult. Later, he said there wouldn’t have been enough time to get into shape.

But he admitted to Patrick that there was a sense of loyalty there, too. The 2008 Celtics went on to win an NBA title.

“If you knew that they were going to win a championship,” Patrick asked, “Would you have come back to play?”

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Indiana Pacers Reggie Miller reacts to hitting the game winning 3 point shot with .07 seconds left in the game to beat Chicago 96-94 in game #4 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Market Square Arena Monday, May 25, 1998. The best of seven series is now tied at 2 games apiece.

“I couldn’t do it, because of all the tears I shed in Indiana, with that fan base,” Miller said. “We cried together on all those hurtful Knicks losses, Bulls losses, Lakers losses in the finals. It wouldn’t be fair for me to be on a podium or a stage poppin’ (bubbly) because I won my one championship. In Indiana, we grew up together, we had the heartaches together. I can’t be sipping champagne and getting a ring (when) I didn’t do it for y’all. That’s just my mentality. That’s my thinking. I’m not saying it’s right. People on Twitter will go crazy that I didn’t win a championship. OK, I’m cool with that. But at least I went down swinging and fighting. That’s what I’m more proud of.”

Miller finished his NBA Hall of Fame career as a five-time All-Star and 25,279 points (22nd all-time). He was named to the NBA 75th anniversary team.

Follow IndyStar trending sports reporter Matthew VanTryon on Twitter @MVanTryon and email him story ideas at matthew.vantryon@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers: Why Reggie Miller didn’t come out of retirement with Celtics