The stage was set Sunday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. The Indiana Pacers hosted the New York Knicks for the first of two games in Indianapolis. The Knicks entered the night trailing 2-0 in the series.
Calling the game on TNT was Reggie Miller, one of the iconic players from the historic Knicks-Pacers rivalry. Although he never won an NBA title, Miller enjoyed a Hall of Fame career with Indiana.
TNT’s social media spotlighted Miller’s entrance on Sunday, where he serenaded the crowd with a line that quickly caught attention:
"I'm going back to Indiana, Indiana's where I'm from."
"I'm going back to Indiana, Indiana's where I'm from."- @ReggieMillerTNT pic.twitter.com/bH7iV4E0nt
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 25, 2025
That raised a few eyebrows:
A social media user said what many people thought: "Ha! Dude's from LA"
"Someone calling the game on national TV shouldn't be this overtly partisan." said this fan.
"TV will be on mute again." this irritated fan mentioned.
"Just his presence has already doomed the Knicks." from a fan here
Another interesting point here: "I thought nationally televised games were supposed to have unbiased announcers."
Knicks fans are none too pleased: "Further evidence the NBA hates the knicks! They could've chosen anyone the commentate this series but here we are."
Miller, now 59, spent his entire NBA career with the Pacers after being drafted 11th overall in 1987. He played until the end of the 2004-05 season and was a five-time All-Star. He made the All-NBA Third Team three times and was honored as part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Though he was a Pacers legend, Miller grew up in Riverside, California, and played college basketball at UCLA. That’s part of why fans were quick to challenge his “Indiana’s where I’m from” lyric.
This is Miller’s final season broadcasting games on TNT. Starting with the 2025-26 season, he’ll join NBC as a game analyst. NBC recently secured NBA broadcasting rights, ending TNT’s run that began in 2005.
As the series continues, Game 4 will take place Tuesday in Indianapolis. If necessary, Game 5 will shift back to Madison Square Garden on Thursday.
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