Reggie Miller vs. Spike Lee: The wild story of how their rivalry began

Reggie Miller, Spike Lee, and Mike Tyson may not have much in common when you first think about them. Once you throw in Miller’s ex-wife, it becomes even harder to find a connection.

In reality, these four helped build a moment that would live on in NBA glory forever.

In this article, we’ll delve into the origins of the Reggie Miller vs. Spike Lee rivalry, tracing the events that set the stage for Miller’s explosive 25-point fourth quarter in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.

In 1992, former boxing champion Mike Tyson was on a quest to regain his title after suffering a shocking loss to Buster Douglas in 1990. Tyson fought hard, defeating several opponents, and eventually set up a matchup with then-champion Evander Holyfield.

Yes, everyone is aware of the two fights between these boxing legends, particularly the second one where Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear. However, did you know that they were scheduled to fight on November 8, 1991?

Unfortunately for boxing fans, the fight would not happen. First, Tyson tore cartilage in his rib during training, which postponed the fight. Then, on February 10, 1992, Tyson was found guilty of rape and sentenced to six years in an Indiana prison.

The Mike Tyson bet

Filmmaker Spike Lee, who found fame after directing movies like Do The Right Thing and Malcolm X, was a big Mike Tyson fan. He also loved the New York Knicks.

Lee and the entire Knicks fanbase already had a growing dislike for the Pacers following their 1993 first-round playoff series. The Knicks won the series, but Miller got into their heads, especially John Starks.

Starks head-butted Miller in Game 3, causing his teammate, Patrick Ewing, to push and scream at him. This led to more drama as Starks’ mother threatened Ewing after the game.

When the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals arrived, tensions were certainly high between the Pacers and Knicks. The Knicks were hungry to get back to their first NBA Finals since 1973, and with Michael Jordan retired, nothing could stop them. Right?

The Reggie Miller vs. Spike Lee rivalry begins

New York certainly wasn’t afraid of a team from Indiana, but after the first four games, the series was tied at 2-2. Knicks fans weren’t too worried, however.

Their team won both games in New York and returning to The Big Apple for Game 5 meant the Knicks should easily win.

While the crowd would cheer loudly for their Knicks, no fan would scream louder than Spike Lee. Most people believed Miller and Lee always disliked each other, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Lee and Miller were friendly with each other, despite the newfound rivalry the Pacers and Knicks were having. Before the series started, Miller made an interesting bet with Lee.

The bet was this: If the Pacers win the series, Lee would have to put Miller’s then-wife, Marita Stavrou, in his next movie. If the Knicks win, Miller would have to visit Tyson in his Indiana prison.

The 25-point fourth quarter explosion

In Game 5, the Knicks were showing the Pacers why they were the superior team. New York led 70-58 after three quarters, and Miller, in particular, was struggling.

Miller had scored just 14 points through three quarters on 6-17 shooting, including 1-6 from three. After every miss, Lee taunted him with trash talk.

Frustrated, Miller decided to send a message.