# Oliver Miller

Oliver J. Miller (April 6, 1970 – March 12, 2025) was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was nicknamed "the Big O" because of his large size (6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) and well over 300 lb (136 kg) throughout his pro career). Miller played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks and was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 1992 NBA draft. After his initial stint in the NBA from 1992 to 1998, Miller played overseas and for semi-professional American teams. He returned to the NBA for the 2003–04 season, but he transitioned back to minor-league and semi-professional play, and he retired from professional basketball in 2010.

## Background

Oliver Miller was born on April 6, 1970 in Fort Worth, Texas, where he was raised and attended Southwest High School. He was a star athlete.
Miller had two sons and a daughter. In September 2020, Miller was reported to be retired and living in Phoenix, with a claimed weight of 278 lb (126 kg), spending his time participating in basketball camps and playing with his grandchildren.
Miller died from cancer in Phoenix on March 12, 2025, at the age of 54.

## College career

Miller was one of the top high school basketball players in the nation as a senior, and he signed with the University of Arkansas and played for its Razorbacks basketball team under head coach Nolan Richardson. Miller played for teams that won the Southwest Conference regular season championship and the SWC Tournament championship three consecutive years from 1989 to 1991. The 1990 Arkansas team also made it to the Final Four. Miller was named the SWC Player of the Year by league coaches, and was the SWC Tournament MVP, in 1991. His senior season, Arkansas moved to the Southeastern Conference, and Miller helped the team win the SEC West Division championship and the SEC overall regular season title in their inaugural year in the conference. During his four years at Arkansas, the Razorbacks posted a record of 115-24. Miller still holds the school record for career blocked shots and highest scoring percentage. He graduated from the university in 1992. Miller is considered one of the best players in school history.

## Career

Miller was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 22nd overall pick of the 1992 NBA draft. He played for various NBA teams over his eight-year career, including the Suns (1992–94, 1999–2000), Detroit Pistons (1994–95), Toronto Raptors (1995–96 and 1997–98), Dallas Mavericks (1996–97) and Sacramento Kings (1998–99). He was signed by the Indiana Pacers during the 2002 pre-season but was waived before the regular season began.
Miller was known as a talented center with good passing skills, averaging 12.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals per game at his peak (1995–96). However, he was also notorious for his weight problems. In the beginning of his career, he was officially listed at 270 lb (120 kg), but in the later years of his NBA career he ballooned to 380 lb (170 kg), seriously reducing his mobility and stamina.
Following his initial stint in the NBA, Miller moved overseas, joining Iraklio BC in Greece for the 1998–99 season. However, in February 1999, he signed with the Kings to play in 4 games. He spent the next season back with the Suns, playing in 51 games. After the season, Miller became a bit of a basketball vagabond, joining the Harlem Globetrotters for the first of two stints with the team, then Pruszkow in Poland and back to the Globetrotters. In December 2001, after another brief term with the Globetrotters, Miller was released for showing "no appreciation for what it takes mentally and physically to be a Harlem Globetrotter." In January 2002 he signed with the Roseto Sharks in Italy, but he did not play there. He then joined the Continental Basketball Association with the Gary Steelheads in Gary, Indiana, before moving to the competing American Basketball Association's Southern California Surf and the USBL's Dodge City Legend. He returned to the Steelheads in October 2002, and was traded to the Dakota Wizards in February 2003. He earned All-CBA Second Team honors with the Wizards at the end of the 2002–03 season.
In the 2003–04 season, Miller made a comeback with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite being listed at 315 lb (143 kg), he was still able to play an average of 10 minutes a game off the bench in his last NBA season. After a stint in Puerto Rico, Miller returned to the Wizards in October 2004 and next played with the Texas Tycoons in the ABA until February 2005. He then played in 2005 for the Arkansas RimRockers in the ABA. Miller was next signed to the Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry of the Premier Basketball League on March 15, 2010, but he was released in December.

### Career after athletics

Miller reportedly relocated to Mesa, Arizona in August 2012 and was a car salesman, working for former basketball player Alvin Heggs. He has also spent time participating in basketball camps.

## Honors and awards

Miller was inducted into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor in September 2016 and was selected as an SEC Basketball Legend in January 2017.

### Legal troubles

In April 2011, Miller was accused of pistol-whipping a man during an altercation at a barbecue cookout in Arnold, Maryland. He was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, possessing a handgun, using a handgun in a violent crime, possessing a handgun in a vehicle and disorderly conduct, among other charges. On November 1, 2011, Miller pleaded guilty in Anne Arundel County to first-degree assault and possessing a handgun. He was sentenced on February 3, 2012, to a year in the Anne Arundel County jail (a five-year sentence with four years suspended), followed by five years of probation.

## NBA career statistics
### Regular season

| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| 1992–93 | Phoenix | 56 | 1 | 19.1 | .475 | .000 | .710 | 4.9 | 2.1 | .7 | 1.8 | 5.6 |
| 1993–94 | Phoenix | 69 | 30 | 25.9 | .609 | .222 | .584 | 6.9 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 9.2 |
| 1994–95 | Detroit | 64 | 22 | 24.3 | .555 | .231 | .629 | 7.4 | 1.5 | .9 | 1.8 | 8.5 |
| 1995–96 | Toronto | 76 | 72 | 33.1 | .526 | .000 | .661 | 7.4 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 12.9 |
| 1996–97 | Dallas | 42 | 0 | 19.9 | .494 | .000 | .528 | 5.5 | 1.4 | .8 | 1.2 | 4.3 |
| 1996–97 | Toronto | 19 | 8 | 16.6 | .560 | .000 | .769 | 3.8 | 1.5 | .7 | .7 | 6.0 |
| 1997–98 | Toronto | 64 | 53 | 25.4 | .461 | .000 | .604 | 6.3 | 3.1 | .9 | 1.1 | 6.3 |
| 1998–99 | Sacramento | 4 | 0 | 8.8 | .455 | — | — | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | .5 | 2.5 |
| 1999–00 | Phoenix | 51 | 9 | 21.3 | .588 | — | .671 | 5.1 | 1.3 | .8 | 1.6 | 6.3 |
| 2003–04 | Minnesota | 48 | 1 | 10.5 | .530 | .000 | .652 | 2.7 | .8 | .4 | .5 | 2.5 |
| Career | Career | 493 | 196 | 23.0 | .534 | .116 | .639 | 5.9 | 2.2 | .9 | 1.5 | 7.4 |

### Playoffs

| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| 1993 | Phoenix | 24* | 0 | 21.4 | .587 | .000 | .564 | 5.2 | 2.1 | .9 | 2.5 | 7.2 |
| 1994 | Phoenix | 10 | 4 | 14.6 | .593 | — | .429 | 4.4 | 1.3 | .6 | 1.2 | 3.5 |
| 2000 | Phoenix | 7 | 0 | 5.3 | .222 | .000 | .500 | 1.1 | .1 | .0 | .3 | .9 |
| 2004 | Minnesota | 8 | 0 | 3.9 | .250 | — | .500 | .6 | .1 | .0 | .4 | .4 |
| Career | Career | 49 | 4 | 14.8 | .559 | .000 | .544 | 3.7 | 1.3 | .6 | 1.6 | 4.4 |