We all knew this Eastern Conference Finals matchup between the Knicks and Pacers would stir up some ghosts from the past, but nobody expected Reggie Miller to show up as one of the ghosts. TNT’s final broadcast year going out with Miller on the mic for a Knicks vs. Pacers playoff clash? That’s not just poetic—it’s Shakespeare in retro Jordans. But sadly for fans, this wasn’t the fun “choke sign” Reggie from the ’90s.

And while Madison Square Garden was electric—Game 1 gave us 273 points, Jalen Brunson dropping 43, Haliburton looking like Steve Nash with Wi-Fi, and Karl-Anthony Towns briefly turning into KG—viewers at home were stuck dealing with ReggieVision. And let’s just say, it was about as smooth as a Kendrick Perkins free throw.

Game 1 had everything: firepower, frustration, fouls, and flat-out confusion—not just on the court, but in the broadcast booth too. The Knicks lost a nail-biter, 138–135, and while fans were dissecting the plays, rotations, and whether Tom Thibodeau should’ve saved his challenge like it was an extra life in NBA Jam, Reggie Miller jumped in with… well, let’s call them “Millerisms.”

Let’s start with the bizarre. Reggie, in one breath, said a Knicks foul was “as blatant as it gets,” and then criticized Thibodeau for using his challenge too early. That’s like saying you crashed your car into a tree and then blaming yourself for not having auto insurance after admitting you were driving blindfolded. C’mon, Reggie.

But things really went sideways when Miller decided to dissect Tom Thibodeau’s coaching decisions like he was guest-judging Top Chef. Miller questioned Thibs’ rotations and challenge usage without offering much basketball logic—he just kind of… floated criticisms into the ether, like he was doing a podcast from the Upside Down.

What Miller seems to consistently ignore (besides the correct names of players) is that Tom Thibodeau has a long, storied history with officiating woes. This isn’t new. Knicks fans have seen Thibs lose his voice yelling about foul discrepancies in games dating back to when Derrick Rose still had knees. In Game 2 vs. Detroit just a few weeks ago, the Pistons had 34 free throws to the Knicks’ 19, and Thibs nearly turned into a tomato on the sideline. In Game 5 against Boston? Brunson got whistled for five fouls in the third quarter alone. The guy spent more time on the bench than a rookie at a team dinner.

So yes, Thibodeau used the challenge early. But maybe, just maybe, he didn’t trust the refs enough to believe he’d get a fair call later. And that’s not paranoia—it’s film study.

Fan Reactions: The Reggie Roast Commences

“My favorite thing to do is search dumb things Reggie Miller says during the playoffs and to see who caught it 🤣🤣🤣 called Delon Dorell. And then said farting 😂😂😂” Look, the internet never forgets, and when Reggie Miller slips up, NBA Twitter becomes a full-blown crime scene investigation unit. Fans instantly latched onto his “Dorell” flub like it was a missed travel in Game 7.  Reggie’s history of verbal missteps isn’t new. During a Lakers-Pelicans play-in game, he suggested Anthony Davis intentionally miss a free throw to protect a four-point lead. That’s like telling someone to unplug their controller because they’re winning too much.

“I want to see every one of these, anti-Knicks, ‘hot takes,’ major media analysts eat their tongues. Every ESPN exec who thought it was a ‘great idea’ to have Reggie Miller commentating our games.” Ah, yes, the New York Knicks mafia strikes again. Reggie’s status as Public Enemy No. 1 in MSG didn’t retire with his jersey. Fans think he’s still playing mental chess against the Knicks, just now he’s doing it with a headset instead of a jumpshot. It’s not just bias. It’s personal. Reggie became a villain in New York during the 90s—between the choke signs, the back-and-forths with Spike Lee, and those cold-blooded daggers. Having him call a Knicks series is like asking Paul Pierce to eulogize LeBron. It just ain’t gonna be neutral.

 “Having to listen to Reggie Miller do a Conference Finals is brutal…Smdh” This isn’t just a Knicks thing—it’s a basketball fan thing. Miller’s commentary style lacks rhythm. He’ll go from praising a player’s defense to criticizing their cardio in 0.3 seconds. He’s got the attention span of a Klay Thompson heat check. Fans watching from home are just trying to keep up. During a Timberwolves game, Miller focused so heavily on Anthony Edwards’ “fatigue” despite the guy playing 41 minutes and scoring 34 points. Fans don’t want overcooked narratives—they want analysis. Or at least correct player names.

 “Reggie Miller just spoke to how blatant a Knick foul was and then immediately criticized them for using their challenge earlier in the game.” And that, ladies and gentlemen, is Reggie in a nutshell: contradictory takes that spin faster than a Kendrick Nunn layup off glass. The man could debate himself on-air and still lose. Challenges in the NBA are strategic tools. Coaches like Thibodeau have to balance timing, situation, and probability of success. Reggie treating the challenge button like it’s a “skip ad” feature on YouTube ignores the game theory at play.

In what should’ve been a thrilling TNT send-off—Knicks vs. Pacers, classic rivalry, brilliant Game 1 battle—we instead got Reggie Miller channeling the ghost of confusing commentary past. His on-air performance raised questions not just about bias, but about clarity, consistency, and whether TNT should’ve maybe gone with a legend who’s not hated by half the fanbase involved.

The basketball? It was pure playoff magic. Haliburton looked like he’s ready to own this stage. Brunson continues to be a bucket that bleeds mid-’90s grit. KAT and Siakam played like All-Stars. And Thibodeau? He’s going to keep doing what he does: yelling at refs, pacing like a caffeinated coach at a JV game, and defending his players with the stubbornness of a guy who’s been burned by the whistle one too many times.

But Reggie Miller? If this is really TNT’s final year with NBA rights, maybe it’s time to give him a quiet send-off—maybe let him do color commentary for Pacers alumni pickup games. Because, as much as fans love playoff basketball, they clearly don’t love their playoff hoops coming with a side of Reggie-isms.