The trophy-lined wall in the Miller family home tells the story of five remarkable journeys. From sports and music to academics, each of the Miller children has carved out their own path. The siblings got it from their parents, both of whom were blessed with both athletic and musical flair and passed their genes to their five kids. They each followed a different path, discovering and embracing their own passions. While Reggie became an NBA elite, their eldest sibling, who was also an athlete, found love in music. But during the special moments, Miller has always looked back at his father. 

The former NBA player has always expressed his gratitude for the support he received from his father, who was strict but also had a loving demeanor. The Indiana Pacers star once recalled how his father attended his eldest sister’s games while his mother was present for him. Miller’s mother, Carrie, wasn’t an athlete like her husband, but she shared his love for playing baseball. She played the sport with her brothers. After completing her education at a nursing school in Atlanta, she became a nurse to help others. 

Carrie and Saul first crossed paths through Saul’s sister, who was Carrie’s classmate. Their connection blossomed, and they were married for more than 3 decades. Her husband, and Miller’s father, was an All-American basketball player during his high school days in Memphis. While Saul had a love for baseball, he also had a passion for music. 

The son of a pastor, Saul grew up among eight siblings. He was a jazz saxophonist who played with legends like B.B. King, Lionel Hampton, and Ike Turner. He once shared a concert bill with Ray Charles in Atlanta and contributed to two recordings as a backup musician. 

As per the Indy Star, Saul also held a Memphis high school scoring record for 30 years. He played at LeMoyne and Southern Illinois before serving 25 years in the Air Force, where he became a chief master sergeant after earning a master’s degree in computer technology. He also served as a church deacon.

The former NBA player once recalled how their father never forced or pressured them into anything, but discipline was of utmost importance. Not just sports, the Miller parents placed a lot of focus on their kids’ academics too. Reggie recalled that their father wasn’t pleased when his sister Cheryl got mostly Cs on the report card. 

“Dad, you made sure we shoes, gloves, bats, balls, socks, all while serving your country for 26 years in the Air Force,” he said. “When Cheryl and I played in high school, normally my dad would be at Cheryl’s game … and my mom would be at my games. You guys always found time. You made time to be there for all of us,” the former NBA player said during his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech.

For their kids, the two always wanted the best. And, these values never left the Miller siblings. Miller shares a strong bond with her elder sister, too.

Cheryl Miller reminisced the old days competing with young sibling

During the Mark Jackson show, Cheryl recounted that one instance when she realised that her young brother was destined for much more. When the 6’7″ player successfully blocked a shot in a dominant one-on-one matchup, his sister recognized his true potential. With time, the retired NBA player had overcome all his early physical challenges. 

During his childhood, Miller had hip deformity and pronated knees, for which he had to wear a cast. “Reggie was kind of like growing up, he was the runt of the family. He was smaller, tinier than everybody. So he just, so he got picked on in the family,” Cheryl recalled. 

It’s clear where his passion and competitiveness came from. It began at home. Cheryl added, “So Reggie naturally grew up with a huge chip on his shoulder. Super competitive. Hated to be beaten…Now, I’m to blame for the chip. But Saul Jr. and Daryl contributed. But that was how Reggie was.” On the same day he put up a 40-point game, his sister dropped an astonishing 105 points. The pressure was always intense for the former NBA player.

Coming from a family full of talent, Reggie always had the drive, but it took a great deal to stand out, even in his own household. His father also spoke highly of Miller’s work ethic in an interview. “You never had to go out there and tell him he needed to practice. He automatically did it. He was disciplined,” he told IndyStar.

“This HURTS.. The man who bought me my first set of baseball cleats, first basketball, who taught me to drown out all the outside noise and FOCUS, is now and will forever be my guardian angel. Thanks, Pops, for EVERYTHING!!! Say hello to Mom for us, know that your teachings will live on through me to my kids,” Miller wrote in a caption of a heartwarming post for his father.