2008 Woodie Awards
Miller returns to the Midwest
by Tyler Buckentine
Issue date: 10/2/08
Section: Timberwolves Training Camp
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More than a decade later, the Mitchell, S.D., native is entering his first season in a Timberwolves jersey.
"I keep getting closer and closer to God's country," said Miller, who according to an autobiography Web page, is also a Minnesota Vikings fan.
"I love Minneapolis and the people there. It's home for me."
Although Miller said he didn't make it to a lot of Timberwolves games at the Target Center growing up, Mitchell - located 337 miles and four hours west of the Twin Cities - is in the Timberwolves' TV coverage range.
So when Miller saw his name on the list of players involved with the eight-player trade that took place just before the clock struck midnight on June 26, he was happy to know he'd be close to home.
Miller was dealt by Memphis to Minnesota - just a few hours after the NBA Draft concluded that night - in exchange for the Timberwolves' first-round draft pick O.J. Mayo along with Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner.
"I was excited to get back home and be a part of something special," Miller said.
Now with Minnesota, Miller gets his first chance to play for a basketball team in the Midwest since he played for Mitchell High School in the '90s.
Miller - arguably South Dakota's most heavily recruited prep player in the state's history - was a three-time All-S.D. State Tournament pick, two-time S.D. Player of the Year and a McDonald's All-American selection his senior season.
Miller led Mitchell to back-to-back state championships his sophomore and junior seasons.
After Miller graduated high school in 1998, he chose the University of Florida over other college basketball powerhouses such as Arizona, UCLA, Kentucky and Kansas.
He became an instant success with the Gators, taking Freshman All-American honors from two different publications.
Miller left Florida after his sophomore year, but in two seasons with the Gators, he was the team's leading scorer as a freshman and as a sophomore, leading Florida to the national title game in 2000.
The move from college ball to the NBA wasn't too far geographically for Miller. He was drafted fifth overall by the Orlando Magic.
Miller spent two seasons with the Magic, where he won the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2001 before Memphis acquired him in 2003.
The Timberwolves are counting on Miller's shooting accuracy this season from 3-point range to help an offense that ranked No. 21 in 3-point percentage and No. 25 in points per game in 2007-08.
"He's one of those guys a coach likes to have on his team because every time he shoots, you think it's going to go in," said head coach Randy Wittman of the eighth-year veteran.
"[Miller] is a gym rat and that rubs off on other people. He's been energetic and communicating with our young guys."
Last season, Miller shot .432 from behind the arc - 10th in the NBA.
"It's good for us. It's good for Mike," said Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale. "His friends and family will be able to come over from Mitchell and see him play."
Miller is eager to help the team he cheered on as a kid in Mitchell, get back on the winning track.
"We have a lot of talent on this team," Miller said. "If we can understand what it takes to win early, we're going to have a good year."
Tyler Buckentine is the Reporter managing editor
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