Florida basketball: 10 best NBA careers in Gators history
By Josh Yourish
![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](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/bce721c9aead9b895e824d4c03b5ff1b4aadabb52807573c99e867dd6153743e.jpg)
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.