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Andre Miller had the undivided attention of the raucous crowd at the Oakland Coliseum as he broke away to the basket. This was his grand solo during the Schick Rookie Game at 2000 NBA All-Star Weekend. He dribbled in, stutter-stepped, leaped -- and the ball up, softly banking it in off the glass.
As he headed back down court, the crowd showed its disapproval, showering him with boos.
In the second half, Miller hit consecutive three-pointers, bringing the crowd to its feet, and - with 18 points - led the rookies to victory over the second-year players, 92-83.
Having to win over crowds seems to be a way of life for Miller. He did the same thing in college. He was barely recruited - partly for academic reasons - and ended up at Utah. The Utes ended up in the Final Four and the Elite Eight his final two seasons. Last season they retired Miller's No. 24.
Cleveland drafted Miller eighth overall in the 1999 NBA Draft, but the Cavs expected him to merely spell Brevin Knight.
In typical Miller fashion, he stepped in when Knight hurt his right knee, producing the Cavs' first triple-double in five years in his first start and averaging 12.8 points and 7.8 assists in 35 ensuing starts.
Miller's 5.8 assists per game were second among rookies in assists (only Steve Francis' average was higher) and 18th in the entire NBA. His 10.9 assists per 48 minutes was eighth in the league and better than New Jersey's Stephon Marbury, Seattle's Gary Payton and Sacramento's Jason Williams. Miller also was 10th in steals (1.02 spg).
Starting year two, Miller probably can't wait for his critics to tell him that he'll never lead a team to an NBA championship.
-- Jon Cooper
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