Even during his playing days, Andre Miller was among the last of a dying breed. Point guards come in all styles and shapes in the modern NBA, but it wasn't long ago that many clung to the outdated belief that a “pass-first” floor general was necessary for a team to reach its offensive peak, and Miller fit the bill to a tee.
The 17-year veteran retired after the 2015-16 season, finishing his perpetually underrated playing career with 8,524 assists, the tenth-most in league history. Miller led the NBA in assists per game and total assists as a third-year player with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2001-02, and averaged more than six assists per game for a staggering 11 seasons.
On one random night nine years ago to the day, however, “Professor” Miller fully embraced another part of his game than getting teammates involved. Miller scored a career-high 52 points on January 30, 2010, willing the underdog Portland Trail Blazers to a 114-112 victory over Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks on the road.
He went 22-of-31 from the field, good for ridiculous 71.0 percent shooting, and 7-of-8 from the free throw line, showing off a full repertoire of scoring skills most assumed he didn't have – awkward as they sometimes appeared.
(2010) Nine years ago today, Andre Miller went off for a career-high 52 points. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gtqt17dYRp
— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) January 30, 2019
Even more impressive than the numbers, though? Miller's out-of-body experience not only came with the help of a single three-point attempt, which he made, of course, but also was accomplished while he was being guarded by Jason Kidd, one of the finest defensive point guards in league history.
Miller, correctly, will never be remembered for his scoring exploits. But during this singular performance 10 years ago, he was just as dangerous creating offense for himself as he ever was doing so for his teammates.
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