Wishing former Rockets big man Brad Miller a happy 44th birthday

As today is former Houston Rockets big Brad Miller’s 44th birthday, let’s take a look back at Miller’s NBA career.

Brad Miller had a successful NBA career, to say the least, as he played 14 seasons with six teams, which included the Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves. During Miller’s tenure in the league, he became one of the best passing big men, as he averaged four or more assists per game in three consecutive seasons.

Miller also averaged double-figures in five consecutive seasons, starting with the 2001-02 season and finishing with the 2005-06 season. All in all, Miller was a career 11.2 point scorer, and posted double-figures in scoring for seven total seasons of his career.

Although Miller was a two-time All-Star, many may not know that he went undrafted, despite being the first player in Purdue history to score 1, 500 points, grab 800 rebounds, and dish out 250 assists. Miller is also one of only five players in school history to grab 800 rebounds.

Miller was also a key lynchpin of the Sacramento Kings, as the Kings won 50-plus games during his first two seasons with the organization, and made three consecutive playoff appearances with him in the starting rotation. Miller’s best season came during the 2003-04 season, in which he averaged 14.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, which was impressive for his first season in Sac-Town. Miller also finished eighth in rebounds per game, 15th in offensive win shares, and 13th in effective field goal percentage all during that season.

Houston Rockets tenure

Prior to the 2010-11 season the Houston Rockets signed Miller to a three-year deal worth $15 million, which re-united him with former Kings coach Rick Adelman, and was intended to give Yao Ming an opportunity to play less minutes. During that season, Miller had 14 games in which he scored in double-figures, and even started five games for the Rockets.

Miller had per-36 averages of 13.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and a career-best 5.1 assists. Miller also showed off his 3-point shooting that season, as he made 37.4 percent of his triples, and a career-best 40 total treys.

Miller also had a true shooting percentage of 56.6 percent, which was the fourth-highest mark in a single season in which he played at least 60 games. But the Rockets missed the postseason despite having a record of 43-39.

This was Miller’s only season with the Rockets, as he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves during the following offseason. Miller was packaged with Chandler Parsons, Nikola Mirotic, and a 2013 first round pick in exchange for Jonny Flynn, Donatas Motiejunas, and a 2012 second-round draft pick.

Miller would play one season with the Timberwolves before being traded to the Phoenix Suns, who then bought him out. As today is April 12th, please join me in wishing Brad Miller a happy 44th birthday.