Brad Miller's skills as a midrange shooter and a passer out of the pivot may have been subtler than the emphatic dunks and rejections that tend to earn accolades for any basketball player measuring 7-feet tall, but there was nothing understated about his emotional reaction after checking out of the final game of his 14-year NBA career.
The 36-year-old, who barely saw the floor with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2011-2012 season as he recovered from surgery, had announced earlier this month that this would be his final season. Although he didn't make a field goal until the fourth quarter, Miller made his lone bucket count. Midway through his final period, Miller knocked down his 201st career 3-pointer from the top of the key and could barely hold in the tears afterward.
Just a few minutes later, head coach Rick Adelman -- who was Miller's coach in Sacramento as well -- subbed the journeyman out of the game. As the Timberwolves' fans sent him into retirement with a standing ovation, Miller cried as he hugged each of his teammates one by one. He then sat down on the bench and put a towel over his head.
"I've always been the tough guy," Miller said after the game when asked about his emotional exit. "I had a couple friends that came into town. I've been all cool all day and coming out, it really hit me hard."
Miller isn't a potential Hall of Famer, but he played a vital role on some good teams including the Kings in the early 2000's. He averaged 11.2 points and 7.1 rebounds throughout his career and played in a pair of All-Star games.