'I'm gonna let you be whatever you wanna be, as long as you work for it' - Jermaine O'Neal on the pivotal role Reggie Miller played in his career

Jermaine O'Neal started twice and appeared in six NBA All-Star games from 2002 to 2007. Many consider JO one of the premiere big men of that era, but his career wouldn't have turned out the way it did if not for Reggie Miller.

Sitting down with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on the "All The Smoke" podcast, Jermaine explained why he considers Reggie a mentor and one of his best teammates ever.

"He is a winner in every aspect of the word. He could have easily vetted that trade," O'Neal said, referring to the deal that sent him to the Pacers in 2000. "Trade for him, trade me. He said, 'Nah, bring in the young boy.' I remember having a conversation with him, and he say, 'I'm a let you be whatever you wanna be, as long as you work for it.'"

Those words we all "The Kid" needed to hear. From a seldom-used prospect in Portland, O'Neal's career quickly rose to new heights. Jermaine was selected as an All-Star and into the All-NBA Third Team, all while winning the Most Improved Player Award, all within a year. JO went from averaging around three points and three rebounds for the Blazers to a double-double machine in two years with the Pacers.

Indiana fans did not take the trade well

As O'Neal noted, the Hall of Famer could have easily vetoed the trade and stuck with Dale Davis, Reggie's teammate for almost a decade. These guys had developed a friendship and camaraderie that allowed them to be elite in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers just came off a trip to the NBA Finals, and "Double D" made the All-Star team in 2000. On the other hand, JO was a young kid who couldn't even crack Portland's big-man rotation.

"I remember going into The Champs downtown, and these damn people are mad," recalled the three-time All-NBA member. "They traded Dale, who was a fan favorite, for basically an unknown. It was challenging for me to hear people talk in a bitter way. It was difficult."

To O'Neal's surprise, "The Knick Killer" took on a mentorship role and was a positive influence, especially during the beginning of his Pacers stint. And to Reggie's credit, he recognized it was time for a change.

Rik Smits just retired, so there was nobody down low who they could trust to score the ball in low-post situations. O'Neal showed glimpses of what he could do while in Portland but was far from a finished product. It was a gamble for Indy, but one that paid off decently.

"I wanted to win it more for him"

It was a slow ascent to the top again for the Pacers, playing around .500 ball for the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons. In the summer of 2001, the Indiana Pacers pulled the trigger on a trade to acquire Ron Artest from Chicago, which sped up the team's development. By 2003, Indy was one win away from the NBA Finals and was off to a great start in 2004. Then, nine games in, the "Malice in the Palace" happened, blowing everything up in smoke.

"Reggie is unbelievable. He meant so much to me and my career. That's why in that brawl situation, I probably wanted to win it more for him than it was for myself," O'Neal continued. "That situation was so bad that it forced him to retire. Reggie probably have two more years in him."

To JO's point, Miller hung his sneakers for good after the 2004-05 season. The brawl practically erased any sense of normalcy around the Pacers, and they had to start rebuilding once again. Reggie was 39 years old at this point and could have requested a trade to a contending team. He decided against it, citing his loyalty to the Pacers fanbase.

Miller remains one of the most beloved figures in Pacers basketball history. He may not have a championship on his resumè, but "Uncle Reg" made it to the league's 75th Anniversary Team. Moreover, Reggie was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.