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On this day: Reggie Miller says no to becoming a Boston Celtic

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Indiana Pacers shooting guard legend Reggie Miller turned down Boston Celtics President Danny Ainge’s offer to join the 2007-08 Celtics as the Boston GM sought to assemble a contender that summer.

Miller, a sharp-shooting luminary known for his lethal outside shot who had been retired for two seasons after 18 campaigns with the Pacers, gave the offer real consideration when he received the call from Ainge.

“I’m always flattered when my name is mentioned as someone who
can still help an NBA team win a championship,” offered the then-NBA analyst for TNT via ESPN’s J.A. Adande.

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“(I have) contacted Reggie and he is contemplating a comeback
with us,” shared Ainge on the prospect of adding Miller to the juggernaut he assembled.

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Ringless despite nearly two decades in the NBA, the offer was appealing to Miller even after the long break as a player and his relatively advanced age. In the end, the prospect of life on the road was too much for the former Pacer to endure, or so he said at the time.

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"I can still shoot with the best of them," offered the then-reigning all-time 3-point shooter (Ray Allen was still some time away from passing him in total 3-pointers made) via Adande. "Mentally, I don't know if I can do eight months," he explained. "February, March, I would have been dead."

"I want people to know, I wasn't coming back because I was bored," Miller added. "I wasn't. Michael Jordan was bored when he came back. I didn't miss the games, I didn't miss the locker room, I didn't miss the bus, I didn't miss the planes. I wanted to come back to play with Kevin [Garnett] and possibly win a championship."

"That was the reason I took it seriously and went two-a-days for two weeks straight," he added.

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And that was the end of the possibility of Reggie Miller as a Celtic. Later, Miller admitted it just wasn't enough time to get into game shape according to the Boston Globe's Shira Springer. Ainge revealed that had he known that was the obstacle, he'd have given the legend more time, creating one of the more intriguing 'what ifs' of Celtics history. This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook! [lawrence-related id=57184,57180,57174,57081] [listicle id=57182]

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