Florida basketball: 10 best NBA careers in Gators history

Mar 9, 2007; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida Gators guard Taurean Green (11), forward Al Horford (42) and forward Joakim Noah wait between plays against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half of a quarterfinal round SEC Tournament game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Floirda won 74-57. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2007 Jason Parkhurst
Mar 9, 2007; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida Gators guard Taurean Green (11), forward Al Horford (42) and forward Joakim Noah wait between plays against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half of a quarterfinal round SEC Tournament game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Floirda won 74-57. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2007 Jason Parkhurst /
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Jun 12, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Mike Miller (13) looks to drives against Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the first quarter of game one in the 2012 NBA Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 12, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Mike Miller (13) looks to drives against Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the first quarter of game one in the 2012 NBA Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4 best Florida basketball NBA career: Mike Miller

  • Drafted: 2000 No. 5 overall
  • NBA career games: 1,032
  • NBA PPG:10.6
  • 2001 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 2006 NBA Sixth-Man of the Year
  • 2x NBA Champion

While David Lee failed to evolve and succeed in the changing NBA, Mike Miller was perfect for the three-point revolution. Miller came into the NBA in 2000 with the Magic after just two seasons at Florida. As a 20-year-old rookie, he averaged 11.9 points a game and was named the Rookie of the Year.

Miller never became a superstar, but as a bench piece, he had a great season in Memphis in the 2005-06 season, winning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year. Then the next season he averaged 18.5 points as a starter.

As he entered his 30s, Miller settled into his role as a spot-up shooter. He joined the perfect team, the Miami Heat with the Big 3. He provided spacing for Lebron, Wade, and Bosh and won the NBA Finals in 2012 and 2013.

Miller had a 17-year NBA career that ended in 2017 with the Nuggets. He played on the Magic, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Wizards, Heat, Cavaliers, and Nuggets.