Oliver Miller
Updated: 12/11/2025, 9:18:03 AM Wikipedia source
Oliver J. Miller (April 6, 1970 – March 12, 2025) was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was nicknamed "the Big O" because of his large size (6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) and sometimes over 300 lb (136 kg)). Miller played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks and was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 1992 NBA draft. After his initial stint in the NBA from 1992 to 1998, Miller played overseas and for semi-professional American teams. He returned to the NBA for the 2003–04 season, but later transitioned back to minor-league and semi-professional play. Miller's basketball career ended in 2010.
Infobox
1999
Sacramento Kings
2002
Dodge City Legend
2003
Fujian Xunxing
2004
Dakota Wizards
2005
Arkansas RimRockers
2010
Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry
Born
(1970-04-06)April 6, 1970Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Died
March 12, 2025(2025-03-12) (aged 54)Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Listed height
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight
270–380 lb (122–172 kg)
High school
Southwest (Fort Worth, Texas)
College
Arkansas (1988–1992)
NBA draft
1992: 1st round, 22nd overall pick
Drafted by
Phoenix Suns
Playing career
1992–2010
Position
Center
Number
25, 30, 2, 8, 3, 48
1992–1994
Phoenix Suns
1994–1995
Detroit Pistons
1995–1996
Toronto Raptors
1996–1997
Dallas Mavericks
1997–1998
Toronto Raptors
1998–1999
Iraklio
1999–2000
Phoenix Suns
2000–2001
Znicz Pruszków
2002–2003
Gary Steelheads
2003–2004
Minnesota Timberwolves
2004–2005
Texas Tycoons
2006–2007
Arkansas Rivercatz
Points
3,625 (7.4 ppg)
Rebounds
2,893 (5.9 rpg)
Blocks
758 (1.5 bpg)
Tables
· NBA career statistics › Regular season
1992–93
1992–93
Year
1992–93
Team
Phoenix
GP
56
GS
1
MPG
19.1
FG%
475
3P%
000
FT%
710
RPG
4.9
APG
2.1
SPG
7
BPG
1.8
PPG
5.6
1993–94
1993–94
Year
1993–94
Team
Phoenix
GP
69
GS
30
MPG
25.9
FG%
609
3P%
222
FT%
584
RPG
6.9
APG
3.5
SPG
1.2
BPG
2.3
PPG
9.2
1994–95
1994–95
Year
1994–95
Team
Detroit
GP
64
GS
22
MPG
24.3
FG%
555
3P%
231
FT%
629
RPG
7.4
APG
1.5
SPG
9
BPG
1.8
PPG
8.5
1995–96
1995–96
Year
1995–96
Team
Toronto
GP
76
GS
72
MPG
33.1
FG%
526
3P%
000
FT%
661
RPG
7.4
APG
2.9
SPG
1.4
BPG
1.9
PPG
12.9
1996–97
1996–97
Year
1996–97
Team
Dallas
GP
42
GS
0
MPG
19.9
FG%
494
3P%
000
FT%
528
RPG
5.5
APG
1.4
SPG
8
BPG
1.2
PPG
4.3
1996–97
1996–97
Year
1996–97
Team
Toronto
GP
19
GS
8
MPG
16.6
FG%
560
3P%
000
FT%
769
RPG
3.8
APG
1.5
SPG
7
BPG
7
PPG
6.0
1997–98
1997–98
Year
1997–98
Team
Toronto
GP
64
GS
53
MPG
25.4
FG%
461
3P%
000
FT%
604
RPG
6.3
APG
3.1
SPG
9
BPG
1.1
PPG
6.3
1998–99
1998–99
Year
1998–99
Team
Sacramento
GP
4
GS
0
MPG
8.8
FG%
455
3P%
—
FT%
—
RPG
2.0
APG
0
SPG
0
BPG
5
PPG
2.5
1999–00
1999–00
Year
1999–00
Team
Phoenix
GP
51
GS
9
MPG
21.3
FG%
588
3P%
—
FT%
671
RPG
5.1
APG
1.3
SPG
8
BPG
1.6
PPG
6.3
2003–04
2003–04
Year
2003–04
Team
Minnesota
GP
48
GS
1
MPG
10.5
FG%
530
3P%
000
FT%
652
RPG
2.7
APG
8
SPG
4
BPG
5
PPG
2.5
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
493
GP
196
GS
23.0
MPG
534
FG%
116
3P%
639
FT%
5.9
RPG
2.2
APG
9
SPG
1.5
BPG
7.4
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| 1992–93 | Phoenix | 56 | 1 | 19.1 | 475 | 000 | 710 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 7 | 1.8 | 5.6 |
| 1993–94 | Phoenix | 69 | 30 | 25.9 | 609 | 222 | 584 | 6.9 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 9.2 |
| 1994–95 | Detroit | 64 | 22 | 24.3 | 555 | 231 | 629 | 7.4 | 1.5 | 9 | 1.8 | 8.5 |
| 1995–96 | Toronto | 76 | 72 | 33.1 | 526 | 000 | 661 | 7.4 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 12.9 |
| 1996–97 | Dallas | 42 | 0 | 19.9 | 494 | 000 | 528 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 8 | 1.2 | 4.3 |
| 1996–97 | Toronto | 19 | 8 | 16.6 | 560 | 000 | 769 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 7 | 7 | 6.0 |
| 1997–98 | Toronto | 64 | 53 | 25.4 | 461 | 000 | 604 | 6.3 | 3.1 | 9 | 1.1 | 6.3 |
| 1998–99 | Sacramento | 4 | 0 | 8.8 | 455 | — | — | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2.5 |
| 1999–00 | Phoenix | 51 | 9 | 21.3 | 588 | — | 671 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 8 | 1.6 | 6.3 |
| 2003–04 | Minnesota | 48 | 1 | 10.5 | 530 | 000 | 652 | 2.7 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 2.5 |
| Career | 493 | 196 | 23.0 | 534 | 116 | 639 | 5.9 | 2.2 | 9 | 1.5 | 7.4 | |
· NBA career statistics › Playoffs
1993
1993
Year
1993
Team
Phoenix
GP
24*
GS
0
MPG
21.4
FG%
587
3P%
000
FT%
564
RPG
5.2
APG
2.1
SPG
9
BPG
2.5
PPG
7.2
1994
1994
Year
1994
Team
Phoenix
GP
10
GS
4
MPG
14.6
FG%
593
3P%
—
FT%
429
RPG
4.4
APG
1.3
SPG
6
BPG
1.2
PPG
3.5
2000
2000
Year
2000
Team
Phoenix
GP
7
GS
0
MPG
5.3
FG%
222
3P%
000
FT%
500
RPG
1.1
APG
1
SPG
0
BPG
3
PPG
9
2004
2004
Year
2004
Team
Minnesota
GP
8
GS
0
MPG
3.9
FG%
250
3P%
—
FT%
500
RPG
6
APG
1
SPG
0
BPG
4
PPG
4
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
49
GP
4
GS
14.8
MPG
559
FG%
000
3P%
544
FT%
3.7
RPG
1.3
APG
6
SPG
1.6
BPG
4.4
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| 1993 | Phoenix | 24* | 0 | 21.4 | 587 | 000 | 564 | 5.2 | 2.1 | 9 | 2.5 | 7.2 |
| 1994 | Phoenix | 10 | 4 | 14.6 | 593 | — | 429 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 6 | 1.2 | 3.5 |
| 2000 | Phoenix | 7 | 0 | 5.3 | 222 | 000 | 500 | 1.1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| 2004 | Minnesota | 8 | 0 | 3.9 | 250 | — | 500 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Career | 49 | 4 | 14.8 | 559 | 000 | 544 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 6 | 1.6 | 4.4 | |
References
- Basketball-Reference.comhttps://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/milleol01.html
- ESPN.comhttp://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/553/oliver-miller
- basketballnetwork.nethttps://www.basketballnetwork.net/old-school/oliver-miller-on-the-time-phoenix-suns-mocked-him-for-being-overweight-in-front-of-his-kids-they-were-more-hurt-than-i-was
- CBSSports.comhttps://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/oliver-miller-nine-year-nba-veteran-and-arkansas-star-dies-at-54/
- Dallas Newshttps://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2025/03/12/ex-dallas-maverick-fort-worth-native-oliver-big-o-miller-dies-at-54/
- Yahoo Sportshttps://sports.yahoo.com/article/report-former-phoenix-suns-center-224034254.html
- The Arizona Republichttps://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2025/03/12/oliver-miller-former-phoenix-sun-dead-at-54/82337638007/
- cbc.cahttps://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/nba/oliver-miller-toronto-raptors-obituary-march13-1.7482421
- Games.ESPN.go.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20020103070623/http://games.espn.go.com/news/nba/george/stringmusic63.html
- Stats Crewhttps://www.statscrew.com/minorbasketball/stats/p-milleoli001
- oursportscentral.comhttps://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3975945
- The Arizona Republichttp://archive.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/20130520phoenix-suns-players-discuss-what-theyre-doing-today.html
- WholeHogSports.comhttps://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2020/sep/08/ready-rookie/
- Fort Worth Star-Telegramhttp://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nba/article100723657.html
- The Statehttp://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-mens-basketball/article127674449.html
- wtop.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20121012130728/http://www.wtop.com/?sid=2353553&nid=81
- ESPN.comhttp://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/7181356/oliver-miller-pleads-guilty-pistol-whipping
- The Baltimore Sunhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/2012/02/03/ex-nba-player-oliver-miller-sentenced-to-one-year-in-jail/
- White Mountain Independenthttps://www.wmicentral.com/sports/local_sports/pros-safely-teach-basketball-in-st-johns/article_50afcf4b-87e4-586a-b062-547d27ba7dec.html
- "Oliver Miller, former NBA big man and Arkansas star, dies at 54"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6199032/2025/03/12/oliver-miller-dies-54-nba-suns-arkansas/