In a glorious moment of payback 30 years in the making, New York Knicks fans sent a message to Reggie Miller Wednesday night.
Knicks star Josh Hart made sure Miller received it, and TNT’s open mic made sure everyone at home heard the profane message, loud and clear.
The Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden to take a 2-0 lead in their playoff series. One of the big storylines in the game involved TNT color analyst Miller. As a Pacers star in the 1990s, he broke Knicks fans’ hearts on several occasions and taunted superfans such as Spike Lee.
In fact, Miller talked before the game about how Knicks fans still hate him, and during his intro, actor Ben Stiller walked by in the background and trolled him.
So late in the game, Knicks fans proved they still hate Miller, by chanting “**** you, Reggie!” The vulgar message was unmistakable, and clearly came across on the TNT broadcast.
Knicks fans chanting “Fuck you Reggie” 😭
— Booming Basketball (@BoomingBBall) May 9, 2024
Just in case Miller didn’t get the message, though, Hart walked over to the broadcast table while the Knicks were at the line shooting free throws.
He leaned down to Miller, who removed his headset.
“I don’t know if you heard, but I think they’re saying, ‘**** you,'” Hart told Miller.
Josh Hart to Reggie Miller: “I don’t know if you heard but I think they’re saying, ‘Fuck you.'” pic.twitter.com/Cl4c9mWyNP
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 9, 2024
“Uh oh,” said TNT play-by-play man Brian Anderson.
It’s an instantly classic moment that immediately evoked memories of Miller making a choking sign to Lee during the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.
Knicks fans loved Hart’s impromptu message to Miller.
Josh Hart:
*thinking* *thinking*
*look there’s Reggie*
“I don’t know if you heard that, I think they said fuck you, I don’t know if you heard though” pic.twitter.com/je7F73j4X5
— Talkin’ Knicks (@TalkinKnicks) May 9, 2024
Thank you for your service, Josh. https://t.co/WPKH8nJwQC
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) May 9, 2024
NO SEVEN SECOND DELAY ON TNT TONIGHT
— David Steele (@David_C_Steele) May 9, 2024
The tnt producers when Josh Hart told Reggie Miller I think they said fuck you pic.twitter.com/QcE5QXwSM0
— Paulos (@yosephpaulos) May 9, 2024
Josh Hart walked up to Reggie Miller and said “Fuck You”
Top 5 moment in Knicks History. #NewYorkForever— Big Moe (@BigMoeTPG) May 9, 2024
Miller told The Dan Patrick Show earlier this week he expected fireworks when he returned to New York to announce the game, saying, “The Boogeyman is coming back to town to call the game. I’m coming.”
Knicks fans — and Hart — were ready.
[@awfulannouncing; Photo Credit: TNT]