Oliver Miller was never the biggest name in the NBA. But he was often the biggest personality in the room, albeit underrated. His 6’9” frame made him stand out, but so did his humor, a trait that endeared him to teammates even as his career fell short of expectations. And now, as former teammate Charles Barkley revisits Miller’s legacy, it’s impossible not to acknowledge the mix of talent, humor, and heartbreak that defined his journey in the league.

Despite his undeniable charm, Miller’s career remains one of the NBA’s biggest ‘what-ifs.’ He played a key role in the Phoenix Suns’ deep playoff run in 1993, coming off the bench to provide a strong inside presence. Yet, the dream ended in heartbreak as Michael Jordan’s Bulls crushed their title hopes and denied them in the Finals. That close call was the pinnacle of Miller’s career, he never made it back to the championship stage.

However, Oliver Miller’s best season in terms of numbers came in the 1995-96 season. Miller averaged 12.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game for the Raptors. But the absence of an All-Star selection only deepened the sting of Miller’s underwhelming career trajectory. 

Never one to hold back, Charles Barkley reflected on Miller’s legacy during a recent Inside the NBA segment. A YouTube clip captured his heartfelt tribute to the ‘gentle giant.’ On Inside The NBA on TNT, Charles spoke candidly about the gentle giant.

“ Oliver Miller. such a young kid. great kid. It’s been a rough week for the NBA family. But, Oliver, man, he was a great kid. We would not have gotten to the finals without Oliver Miller. we would not have gotten there. He was terrific. terrific passer. had these really strange long arms that he played bigger than his size. But he was a great kid. And man, 53, 54 years. that’s way too young to be passing away. So I just want to say, talking to all my other teammates, man, it was a rough week.” Describing how the week was dreadful for anyone who was graced by the presence of Big O.

Charles Barkley’s Reflection: More Than Just A Laugh 

Brutally honest as ever, Barkley looked back on Miller’s career with both admiration and regret. “Man, Oliver was a hell of a player,” Barkley once said. “O could be an All-Star if he learned two words: I’m full,” clearly miffed about Big O’s lack of focus on his fitness. But Miller wasn’t just a “hell of a player”, he was also a comedic genius. In his rookie season with the Phoenix Suns, Miller famously walked into a team huddle and asked the coaching staff, with a straight face, “Do you have extra plays for the big fellas?“ The entire squad, including Barkley, erupted in laughter.

Oliver Miller also had a fair share of run-ins with trolls while on the street or in team conversations. One of his funniest encounters was when on the street, one fan approached him and said, “You want a cheeseburger?”  while this was a jab at his overweight stature, Big O did not hold back and replied, “I’d say, ‘Yeah, hold the pickles. Give me some extra onions so I don’t have to worry about talking with you because of my breath,” remarkably funny and apt reply to the mean fan. 

Miller’s career is a reminder that raw talent isn’t always enough. His size and skill set should have made him a long-term NBA force. But conditioning struggles and league biases against larger players limited his ceiling. Yet, for those who played alongside him, he was a key contributor, a brilliant passer, and a beloved teammate.