The basketball community has long been witness to moments when players failed to acknowledge the greatness of their peers, from Wilt Chamberlain dismissing Bill Russell’s defensive prowess to Shaquille O’Neal’s playful jabs at David Robinson. The sport has seen its fair share of oversight and rivalry-fueled blindness. But now it seems like Reggie Miller, who is known for his sharpshooting, has unknowingly added another chapter to this narrative.

Miller recently took to his Instagram to post a picture on his story that featured a photo of himself with fellow NBA legends Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, and he captioned it with, “Bucket getters.” The picture was taken at the recently conducted Hall of Fame ceremony in Springfield. The term that Miller used can said to be a nod to their scoring prowess. However, it didn’t take long for fans and basketball pundits to notice an important thing. Magic Johnson, who is one of the most prolific scorers and playmakers in NBA history, was also present at the ceremony but was absent from Miller’s photo and caption.

The absence was particularly striking given Magic Johnson’s impact on the game. With career averages of 19.5 PPG and 11.2 APG, Johnson was a formidable scorer in his own right. Previously, the former Indiana Pacers shooting guard has stated Johnson as his mentor while wishing him a happy birthday. “Happy Birthday to my mentor, friend and just overall BADASS BALLER @magicjohnson,” read the caption of the post made by Miller in 2021.

Miller’s choice to spotlight McGrady and Carter, while both undoubtedly deserving of the “bucket getter” moniker, seemed to overlook the broader context of NBA scoring greatness. One may ask why. It’s because T-Mac’s 62-point game and Carter’s high-flying dunks are etched in basketball lore, but we can’t deny the fact that Johnson’s consistent brilliance over a longer period arguably sets him apart.

While there are no previous instances of rivalry or heated moments between the two legends, it can be speculated that Johnson wasn’t present near Miller when the photo was taken or the Lakers legend was busy with something else. Whatever the case, this Hall of Fame ceremony snapshot has reignited discussions about recognition, respect, and the ever-evolving narrative of NBA greatness. However, this isn’t the only time that Miller has kept Johnson as a second option.

When Reggie Miller chose Michael Jordan over Magic Johnson

The Indiana Pacers shooting guard was drafted as the 11th overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft so he had to face Michael Jordan and his team the Chicago Bulls throughout his career. During an episode of the Open Court show in 2011, Miller picked Michael Jordan over legends like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the NBA All-time Draft to start his team.

During the interview, the former shooting guard was asked to share his experience of playing against Michael Jordan, and he didn’t spare a moment to tell that. “I grew up in the LA area, was raised and trained by Magic Johnson. I patterned my game after Larry Bird… If I’m starting the team, it’s Michael Jordan…We had to guard him 35 to 40 minutes a game and he was the Shaq of shooting guards because there was no way you were going to move him off the post, he was cat-quick. And on top of that, he was going to embarrass you in front of your family and friends,” said Miller during the interview.

While many fans and analysts consider Jordan, Johnson, and Bird to be among the greatest players in NBA history it can be said their styles of play were vastly different. Miller’s choice of Jordan reflects his personal preference and admiration for the Chicago Bulls legend, however, it can’t be denied the amount of influence he has got from Johnson.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.