In a league built on rivalries, few burn hotter, longer, and nastier than the war between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. Started in 1977 and still beefing in 2025, the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers rivalry has always been pure, unapologetic drama. No hugs. No love. Just decades of bad blood on hardwood. And amid all that chaos, one name that still stands tall is Reggie Miller. The man, the mouth, the absolute Knicks killer.

Back in the ‘90s, this wasn’t just a matchup, it was must-watch drama. You had Reggie Miller talking trash like it was an Olympic sport, and Patrick Ewing holding it down for the Garden. Iconic games, last-second daggers, and moments you’ve seen replayed a thousand times on highlight reels. Now, with Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton carrying the torch, this old-school feud’s heating up again. 

But before you lock in for the next chapter, let’s hit rewind and watch how Reggie Miller held it down for Indiana, battling the bright lights of New York. And setting the bar sky-high for today’s stars.

Reggie Miller’s Stats Against the Knicks

The Knicks may lead the all-time series 124-122. But make no mistake, a big chunk of those Indiana wins have Reggie Miller’s fingerprints all over them. New York holds a 102-96 edge in the regular season, while Indiana owns the Knicks in the playoffs with a 26-22 record. And right in the heart of those playoff battles? Reggie and his ice-cold, clutch three-pointers.

Over his career, Reggie Miller averaged 18.4 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 67 games against New York. But it wasn’t just the numbers, it was when he hit those shots. Big moments, loud arenas, and hearts breaking in The Garden.

Take a look at the all-time playoff results between these two:

Reggie Miller’s history with the New York Knicks

Before he became the ultimate Knicks villain, Reggie Miller was lighting it up at UCLA. The sharpshooter earned third-team All-American honors in 1986, showing early signs of the clutch gene he’d soon unleash in the NBA.

The Pacers grabbed him 11th overall in the 1987 NBA Draft. But the most hilarious part about it is that Indiana fans weren’t exactly thrilled. They wanted local hero Steve Alford, a New Castle, Indiana native, and booed Pacers president Donnie Walsh for picking Reggie instead. Yeah… about that.

Fast forward a few seasons, and Reggie Miller became the face of the franchise. Not just a Pacer, a legend. And those same fans who booed? Yep, they were chanting his name every night. Reggie Miller spent his entire 18-year NBA career with the Indiana Pacers, from 1987 to 2005. Drafted 11th overall in ‘87, he never wore another jersey. Now, if you ask anyone, it’s hard to picture him anywhere else.

Across nearly two decades, Reggie gave Pacers fans memories they’ll never forget. One of those moments came during the 1993 playoffs, when Indiana and New York faced off in their first-ever postseason battle. It was the spark that lit a rivalry still burning over 30 years later.

The flicker that ignited the Indiana-New York basketball rivalry

Every great rivalry needs a spark, and this one came with a headbutt. Back in 1993, during the first-ever playoff clash between Indiana and New York, John Starks lost his cool and headbutted Reggie Miller in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round. That moment? vintage ‘90s NBA drama. It didn’t just light a fire, it torched the entire building. From there, the Pacers and Knicks rivalry went from competitive to downright personal.

Miller’s relentless trash talk and physical play eventually pushed John Starks over the edge. A series of elbows later, Starks cracked Miller right in the head and got ejected from the game. Looking back in 2017, Starks told MSG, “I was so mad. I wanted to take my fist and just put it right through his face. I’m talking to him in a polite way, and we just got close, and I just, bam, something just came up and tapped him like that, and he knows, he’s dramatic, Hollywood.”

But that was just the beginning. Do you remember May 7, 1995? If not, don’t worry. On that day, Reggie Miller did something absolutely unheard of, something nobody saw coming. Before that moment, this kind of clutch performance was unthinkable. But Reggie? He made it happen.

The date? May 7, 1995. The place? Madison Square Garden, basketball’s grandest stage. And on that night, the NBA witnessed one of its most electrifying playoff moments. The Indiana Pacers were down six points to the Knicks, with only 18.7 seconds left in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The crowd was buzzing, the tension thick and then, Reggie Miller took over.

For most players and teams, that game was a wrap. Done. Over. But Reggie Miller? He doesn’t exactly fit into the category of “most players.” What happened next would lock his name in NBA playoff history forever. In a stretch of just 9 seconds, Reggie dropped 8 points. A miracle sequence that left Madison Square Garden in stunned silence and Pacers fans losing their minds.

The Pacers were down 105-99. The Knicks’ crowd was already tasting that W, roaring, waving towels. Then, with the calm of a cold-blooded sniper, Reggie splashed a three. Boom 105-102. But he wasn’t done, not yet. Before anyone could even react, Reggie snatched the inbound pass, took one smooth step back, and buried another three. Tie game. 105-105.

The spark Reggie lit that night? It’s still running through the veins of this new generation of Pacers. Guys like Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner aren’t just playing for wins, they’re carrying Reggie’s torch every time they step on that court. And now, with the Eastern Conference Finals looming, it’s their turn to write the next chapter of this epic rivalry. Are you in it with me?