Brad Miller (basketball)
A crafty, hard-nosed center from rural Indiana who outsmarted opponents to become a two-time NBA All-Star without the typical athletic pedigree.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American basketball player·Birthday: April 12·Generation X
Biography
Brad Miller's path to the NBA was anything but a straight line from prep star to lottery pick. A standout at Purdue, he went undrafted in 1998, a snub that defined his entire professional identity. He clawed his way onto NBA rosters not with leaping ability but with a high basketball IQ, a feathery touch from the mid-range, and a famously physical, sometimes ornery, style of play. Miller became the quintessential system center, a brilliant passer from the high post who could stretch defenses with his shooting. His peak years with the Sacramento Kings placed him at the heart of one of the league's most entertaining offenses, where his chemistry with Chris Webber and Vlade Divac made him a fan favorite. He retired as a testament to the enduring value of skill, toughness, and knowing exactly where to be on the court.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Brad was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brad Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Brad's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as an NBA All-Star twice, in 2003 and 2004, while with the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings.
- Averaged a career-high 14.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game during the 2002-03 season.
- Played a key role on the early-2000s Sacramento Kings, one of the most potent offensive teams in NBA history.
- Scored over 8,000 points and grabbed over 5,000 rebounds in a 14-year NBA career after going undrafted.
Did You Know?
He played college basketball at Purdue University, where he was a First Team All-Big Ten selection in 1998.
He was known for his distinctive mullet hairstyle during his playing days.
He led the NBA in personal fouls during the 2001-02 season.
He grew up in Kendallville, Indiana, and attended East Noble High School.
“I wasn't the fastest or the highest jumper, so I had to outwork and outsmart you.”
