Throughout the rich history of the Association, there have been countless guards trying to put their imprint on the league and the game of basketball as a whole. And while many are still celebrated to this day for their contributions and accolades, there are also those who simply didn't manage to stay relevant in the harsh reality called the NBA.
However, what about those who were good enough to compete, even dominate in their own way, but somehow got overlooked by both the media and the fans? Well, Carmelo Anthony , one of the greatest pure scorers of all time, named one "forgotten baller" who definitely deserves his place in basketball history. And his name is Andre Miller .
Miller is a guy who often goes under the radar when talking about the greatest floor generals of his generation, but those who got to witness his gift firsthand know exactly what kind of player he was.
"Dre was one of those guards during that time that, your favorite guard, hated to play against him. Like, your favorite guard's favorite guard…" Melo explained in the recent episode of his "7 PM in Brooklyn " podcast.
Miller was selected as the eighth pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, and immediately, it became clear what kind of reliable player he was. Sure, he was never as flashy as Magic Johnson, nor as gifted of a scorer as some of the guys who came after him, but Miller played the game the right way.
In his first three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers , Dre averaged solid numbers and even led the league in assists in the 2001-02 campaign. To put it into perspective, it was a time when guys like Jason Kidd, Gary Payton and even Steve Nash were playing at the same position, and Miller still managed to take home that crown.
However, apart from his natural ability to put his teammates in the best position to get a bucket, Miller could also score when needed. With a strong 6'3", 200-pound frame, he knew how to use his body and get to his preferred spots on the floor with ease, just like Melo pointed out. And even though his career scoring numbers were never eye-popping, he was still a reliable contributor on that end.
"He just had a switch that he can go either way you want to go. I'mma pass first guy anyway, so, I'mma get guys going and if you are too small I'mma post you, my post game is immaculate. I could play in the pick-and-roll; I could iso you if I really need to… Then I can play in transition," the retired forward added.
Carmelo indeed knows a thing or two about how special Dre was, considering he entered the league at the same time Miller later joined the Denver Nuggets. Anthony, as a young, prolific scorer, capitalized on the playmaking prowess Miller brought with him.
Even Miller himself once admitted that young Melo was one of the reasons he took his talents to Denver when he became a free agent. Anthony profiled himself as a bucket getter, while Miller made sure everything ran smoothly and that the offense developed in the right direction. Those Nuggets teams were fun to watch, even if they lacked meaningful postseason success.
Andre spent 17 seasons in the best basketball league in the world, and even though towards the end of his career he became more of a journeyman, hopping from team to team in search of a championship ring, he retired without one to show for it.
But in the grand scheme of things, that doesn't really take away from what he was. Because when players themselves say you are the "favorite guard's favorite guard," that tells you everything you need to know.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
