Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse had everything on the line. The Pacers and Knicks were battling like maniacs. For fans, this scene felt like déjà vu. Neither this scene nor the rivalry is anything new for fans. And when the men who helped build it are in the building, things are bound to go down on the road. That’s why when Pacers legend Reggie Miller and die-hard Knicks fan Spike Lee showed up courtside, fans expected absolute chaos. At least history suggests so. But before this humongous win in Game 4, Miller stayed close to home in Indiana, probably itching to see his squad bounce back and reclaim control.

From 1987 to 2005, Reggie Miller poured his heart and soul into the Indiana Pacers. And even after hanging up his jersey, stepping into the world of broadcasting, his love for the franchise has never faded. Indiana isn’t just where he played, it became his second home. And before this crucial game 4 win, Reggie took a well-deserved break to revisit the streets and spots that hold a lifetime of memories.

In one of his recent Instagram posts, before game 4, when he had some time for himself, Reggie Miller shared something that hit right in the feels. Now a commentator for TNT, Miller took the chance to stroll through the streets that once roared with his name. Reflecting on his return, Reggie posted, “Was nice to be back home in Indiana and get some miles in between games. Was able to visit some of my ole stomping grounds and rolled through a few neighborhoods, saw kids donning the 31 jersey while riding bikes, DA BEST…” 

The funniest part is that Reggie was in full biking gear. He was cruising through the city on a cycle like it was 1995 all over again. He even shared snaps from his ride, soaking in the streets that built him. It’s moments like these that remind you, no matter how far you go or how long it’s been, there’s nothing like home. Wait, this isn’t the end of all nostalgia. Surprisingly, we have got a snapshot from Gainbridge Fieldhouse that left fans in awe.

In the photo, Reggie’s seen giving Spike Lee a firm hug, both of them grinning from ear to ear. Given the history between those two, this one hit differently. The rivalry, the trash talk, the intense playoff showdowns, all of it seemed to vanish in that single moment. A far cry from how things stood back in the late ’90s when these two couldn’t even fake being cordial. The cooling went this far that Reggie posted an IG story with him and Spike in frame. And the caption? Mutual respect. “Time heals all wounds, nothing but love between @officialspikelee & I.” Surely, greatness is defined in forgiving, forgetting, and the duo has now chosen peace for each other. But what led to the wound?

The story behind the iconic Spike Lee and Reggie Miller rivalry

When you think of classic NBA beef, it doesn’t get much better than the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks. Longtime hoops fans know these two have quite the history under the bright lights. Between the 1990s and 2000, the Knicks and Pacers clashed five times in the playoffs, and naturally, bad blood followed. At the center of it all? Pacers legend Reggie Miller and Knicks superfan Spike Lee.

Sure, rosters have flipped countless times since those days. But this year’s playoff run brought both Miller and Lee back into the same building. And yep, the memories came flooding back. For three decades, Spike’s been courtside at Knicks games, dishing out trash talk like it’s his job. And Miller? He was one of the few players who loved firing it right back.

Miller was front and center for all six of Indiana’s playoff battles with the Knicks from 1993 to 2000. Spike wasn’t just a heckler to him, he became part of the show. In a 2015 interview, Miller admitted, “I made [Lee] part of the game.” And it wasn’t always lighthearted, either. The taunts got personal, even dragging Reggie’s sister, hoops legend Cheryl Miller, into the mix.

Things hit a boiling point in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. Lee poked the bear one too many times, and Miller went off, dropping 25 points in the fourth quarter of Game 5. He capped it with that unforgettable choking gesture toward Spike. The Pacers took the game, though the Knicks still escaped the series in seven.

Fast forward to now, and it looks like time does heal old wounds. This viral hug between Reggie and Spike felt like a curtain call on one of the NBA’s most entertaining rivalries. The history’s old, but that hug might just be the moment that finally buries the hatchet between these two. What do you think? Is this feud officially over, or are we one playoff series away from another round?