Reggie coming back?

[Joe']

LOL Why would anyone want to give Ostertag a basketball? The guy is awful. Possibly the worst big man in basketball history (after Shawn Bradley of course).

On topic, I'd like to see Reggie come back, but I'm not sure it'd be beneficial for the Celtics. I mean, the man is forty-two and his knees are as fucked-up as it gets. He wouldn't last much.

Anyways, as I saw that link Mart posted, I realized how crappy the NBA is compared to ten years ago.
I obviously voted for my favorite player John Stockton.

[Sauru]

yeah i voted for stockton too, not only cause he was my fav player on that list(and fav non celtic player ever) but because even at his age i think he could help more than anyone else on said list.

[NovU]

if payton retires, i'd vote for payton... he definitely needs a break

[ThaLiveKing]

I Said Charles Barkely. . he outran A Referee, come on Give him 70 Million

[Joe']

Truth is every player on that list in his prime was better than any player on the NBA now.
None of them is likely to come out of retirement anyway

[shadowgrin]

lol at the link, they even used that after-lottery pic of Rivers and Ainge.

I voted for the Malone. The Mailman can still play. He's still better than half of the big men in the league today.

[Andrew]

Reggie working out twice a day

A Miller comeback doesn't necessarily seem imminent but perhaps there's more to the situation than mere speculation.

[Indy]

Oh yeah, there is no question that Reggie is actually considering it.

I'm with Mel Daniels "If he comes back I'll go to Southern California my self and beat his face in."

[Silas]

Just beat his ears in.

I don't think he should come back, he's got nothing to prove. He's one of those guys who's career isn't shadowed because he didn't win a championship. He proved himself and his loyalty for over twenty years, there's nothing left to do but destroy the fact that he played for one team his entire career.

[TheMC5]

Just beat his ears in.

I don't think he should come back, he's got nothing to prove. He's one of those guys who's career isn't shadowed because he didn't win a championship. He proved himself and his loyalty for over twenty years, there's nothing left to do but destroy the fact that he played for one team his entire career.

This assumes that the only reason a player would come back is to prove something. A championship is something every athlete aspires to. To win that final game (or race, or what have you) gives one a sense of joy and pride that extends beyond and overshadows one's personal legacy. It is just existing in that moment with your teammates, engulfed in joy and elation, and having that memory to carry with you for the rest of your life, knowing you have accomplished what you dedicated most of your life to doing. So if Reggie is comfortable in his abilities and confident in his legacy, I see no reason why he shouldn't return if he can understand his role and limitations. And besides, do you really think the Celtics would be better served by Eddie House in the spot up shooter role for 10-15 minutes a night?

Really, I'm not against any pro athlete coming out of retirement. Sometimes you just get exhausted and fed up with the rigors and pressures of what you are doing, and more than anything need some time off to let your mind and body heal, and renew your passion and interest. Most professions allow for this. It's called a sabbatical. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be an option for most pro athletes, due to performance and contract concerns. So the only real alternative is to retire, and then un-retire if you suddenly decide you still want to compete, and have prepared and believe you can.

[dan_suth]

What I don't understand is how someone could feel so proud of themselves, and get "engulfed in the joy and elation" if they were to come out of retirement to join one of the top contenders in the league for that season. If Reggie were to sign with the Celtics this year and they won the championship, would he really feel that honorable? I just don't get it.

Then again, I also felt that Malone and Payton were kind of pathetic for joining that Lakers team in 2004 to try to make one last ditch effort for a ring (especially Malone, who had spent his entire career in Utah - it was sad to see him ditch them to create a stacked Lakers team).

[TheMC5]

What I don't understand is how someone could feel so proud of themselves, and get "engulfed in the joy and elation" if they were to come out of retirement to join one of the top contenders in the league for that season. If Reggie were to sign with the Celtics this year and they won the championship, would he really feel that honorable? I just don't get it.

It's not like he'd be their 12th man, or a bench-warmer or cheerleader, he'd be playing a role (maybe not a pivotal one, but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts) on a possible championship team. If they win, he will have had a hand in it. He'd be playing the whole season, not jumping on board for a playoff run. So, unless all bench players or role players should feel no joy in winning, nor feel any desire to do so, then it's perfectly legitimate for Reggie, or any other former star, to take on a reduced roll for a shot at a title.

[NovU]

well, dan suth, i wouldn't look at it that way. malone and payton both might have looked pathetic but were they really? they gave up a lot for a chance to be the champ, maybe more than anybody in the history of nba. they sacrifised a lot, not to mention millions of dollars and reputation. but it's sad how ppl looked at em like rotten eggs.

some players like reggie, malone are past the point where u hafta be selfish to prove how good u r, and are ready & willing to take a fall and hit for the chance to own a title. it should mean a lot to players like them. i respect that.

[TheMC5]

What I don't understand is how someone could feel so proud of themselves, and get "engulfed in the joy and elation" if they were to come out of retirement to join one of the top contenders in the league for that season.

Also, you might want to ask Michael Jordan about that one.

[Sauru]

not the same by any means, jordan lead the team, where if reggie comes back he will be playing 15 minutes off the bench. still i feel he should be proud cause if he did come back and the celts did win it all it would be because reggie helped them do it, i dont see him being a player to take a free ride. also if he was looking for a free ride the celtics are by no means the team to do it on.

[Indy]

I don't really think Reggie's motive is just to come back and get a ring. That seems to be the obvious reason, since he doesn't have one, but I think this is more of a Jerry Rice type thing.

Jerry just couldn't give up football and kept on trying out for teams like Seattle and Denver after all his talent was gone. Reggie is just getting that itch to be out there again.

[jkidd1216]

Reggie shouldn't come back...It would be a waste of time for Reggie (Cause, realistically, the Celts are not winning a ring) and a waste of money for the Celtics...What they need is a a pass first PG, and a Defend/rebound first C...

I heard the Dallas stuff, and reggie had no intent of playing there, BUT...Dallas did want him, so there was some speculation of whether or not he would come out...And if Reggie didn't want to come out when Dallas had a legitemate chance at winning, why woudl he go to Boston where they really don't.

[Sauru]

i wouldnt go and say the celtics will not win a ring, they certainly are not going to be the favorites, but to completly discount them is way off. also they dont need a pass first pg, they need a pg who can play some defense and hit any open shot you give him. the center thing i do agree with you, which is why i was kinda happy when the celts talked to mutombo(no matter his age he will rebound and defend for you off the bench) but it seems that has completly fallen apart now. foyle was just released and i would not mind him on the team but someone will probably offer him too much money for what he gives you, seems the magic are already interested.

i also believe indy is right in that reggie has an itch. i think he still loves the game and misses the game and the fact that a team came to him and said, not only do we want you we feel we need you, i think that makes him feel a shit load better about himself and this possible situation. the waste of money thing is off though, he will make league min and even being 42 he will be better at league min than whoever else you will get for that price.

[---]

What they need is a a pass first PG, and a Defend/rebound first C...

Rondo is a pass first point gaurd, and Kendrick Perkins defends and rebounds moreso than anything else, so I don't know what you're getting at here...

[jkidd1216]

Okay...my mistake they need a GOOD pass first PG...The only reason Rondo is a pass first PG is cause he couldn't throw a basketball into the ocean if he was standing on a beach...Sauru, To you, they don't need a shooting PG, they have a SF who takes a few too many shots (won't anymore tho, I guess that he used to have to...) and the Purest shooter in the NBA...Why would you need a shooting PG? Teams only have five players, and if you double one of the Big Three, or Even Two of them...At Least one of them will be open...(Unless you're the kings, cause Ron Artest can semmingly guard everyone at the same time, if he so chooses...)

and Kendrick Perkins....well...It's Kendrick Perkins...He's too young. When he get's some more experience, maybe...but they need a defend/rebound C that won't get torn down by even the likes of Chris Kaman...Mutombo is good, if they can find a crane that can lift him off the bench...once he gets on the floor, it's actually quite surprising as to what he can do...but getting up is a different story for the dude...

[jkidd1216]

Now that I think about, if Boton can get a good supporting cast...Reggie would remind me a lot of Steve Kerr when The spurs won in 02-03.
I remember his press conference...A reporter asked him about his role on the team and he replied with
"I have the best role on the team, I sit on the bench for most of the game, it gets close, I come in, hit a few 3's then come talk to you guys."
I could see reggie maybe doing that....but not much more.

[TheMC5]

not the same by any means, jordan lead the team, where if reggie comes back he will be playing 15 minutes off the bench.

The only differences there are that Jordan's first retirement following the Bulls first three-peat came when he was much younger than Reggie is; that at any age, Michael Jordan is a much better basketball player than Reggie Miller; and that he'd be playing for a team other than the one he spent his whole career with, which Jordan eventually came out of retirement again and did with the Wizards, and no one seems to hold it against him. Need I remind you that the Jordan-less Bulls were still contenders in the East for 2 years? Do you really think Jordan would have come back to the Bulls if they'd already rid themselves of Pippen and Phil Jackson in the interim? I bet he would have tried to go a better team than one as crappy as the Bulls minus Pippen and Jackson would have been. So he was coming back to a contender, as well, though he instantly made them nearly unbeatable.

[NovU]

wuh... i think we've already talked about pass first pgs on houston thread. simply, i would put it this way. good pass first pgs aren't neccessity to be a contender and it goes same for boston. i mean look at boston. they got big 3 who are playmakers and shooters. any pg would have to pass first before taking a quick jump shot. so i'd rather say clutch pg or good shooting pg fit better on boston than pass first pg. u just don't need another playmaker. so rather than andre miller kind, i'd go for gibson kind.

besides, when the team's got superstars and a good chemistry, you just dont need a great pg. regular pgs can play like great pgs when everything clicks. shaq can prove that with damon jones and shit.

but ur right that no one's not really sure if boston is a true champion contender like mavs, spurs, phx or det, but roster looks as good as it gets. what remains a question is if all big 3 can survive at the same time on court. cuz recent case hasn't been too successful when u look at ai & melo combo and malone/shaq/kobe/payton lakers.

[Sauru]

...Sauru, To you, they don't need a shooting PG, they have a SF who takes a few too many shots (won't anymore tho, I guess that he used to have to...) and the Purest shooter in the NBA...Why would you need a shooting PG? Teams only have five players, and if you double one of the Big Three, or Even Two of them...At Least one of them will be open

your math is off here. if they double 1 of the big 3 how is one open?

[Andrew]

I don't think he should come back, he's got nothing to prove.

I don't think it's about proving anything though. I'm sure the possibility of winning a championship is one of the most appealing prospects for Reggie Miller and indeed any retired athlete who considers a comeback, but I think much of it has to do with the love of the game and missing the experience of competition and being an NBA player.