Reggie Miller goes off on ‘frontrunner’ Knicks fans

Apr 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; TNT broadcaster Reggie Miller attends game five of the first round of the NBA playoffs between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Reggie Miller’s hatred for the New York Knicks has not faded over the years. If anything, it only seems to be growing stronger.

In an appearance on Mark Jackson’s podcast, Miller went off on the Knicks and their fans, arguing that they inserted him into their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Indiana Pacers. Miller was not necessarily bothered by the “f— you, Reggie” chants that appeared at Madison Square Garden while he was working the series for TNT, but was critical of them for only doing it when winning, and disliked Knicks forward Josh Hart fueling the matter.

"This is why I can't stand the Knicks…They're frontrunners. They think they're god's gift to basketball…Where gasoline was poured on it was when Josh Hart came over to me…Think he was trying to be funny…'FU'…He shouldn't have come over & said that…"

–– Reggie Miller pic.twitter.com/VVpp9sG9Uw

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 12, 2024

“This is why I cannot stand the Knicks. To me, they’re frontrunners,” Miller said. “They think that they’re God’s gift to basketball. Now that you guys know you’re going to win the game, the chants — should have left it at that and we all could have moved on. Where gasoline was poured on it is when Josh came over to me. I don’t think there was anything malicious. I think he was trying to be funny. But for him to pour gasoline on it, because all you heard on the mic was him saying “f you,” which wasn’t the case. Why am I being dragged into the series? I’m here to work.”

A skeptical Jackson pointed out that Miller taunted Knicks fans before the series, and even posted on Instagram after the series suggesting that the Hart moment was some sort of turning point. Miller, however, would not have it, saying he was dragged into it against his will.

Knicks fans hate Miller. Miller does not feel any differently about them. It will always be that way. It hardly matters who starts it or finishes it. Miller is right that Hart probably exacerbated things, but Miller himself certainly did not seem bothered by any of it.