Former NBA center Oliver Miller died at the age of 54, the Phoenix Suns announced on Wednesday.
Eddie Johnson, a former NBAer and the longtime TV analyst for the Suns, initially revealed the news via social media post.
“I am so sad to report we have lost another @NBA Fraternity member! Nine year veteran Oliver Miller has passed away at age 54! Going to miss you Big O,” Johnson wrote.
In a post of his own back in late February, Miller had announced that he was battling cancer.
Miller was affectionately referred to as “The Big O” and played nine years in the NBA with Phoenix, Toronto, Detroit, Minnesota, Dallas and Sacramento.
He spent four years at the University of Arkansas playing for Naismith Hall of Fame coach Nolan Richardson, where he helped lead the Razorbacks to three straight SEC regular season and tournament titles. He and Arkansas reached the Final Four in 1990, where it lost to Duke.
In a statement, the school’s men’s basketball team said it was “saddened” by Miller’s passing and that he was “a true embodiment of the Razorback spirit.”
Miller was taken 22nd overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Suns and was a member of the squad that reached the NBA Finals during the 1992-93 season, only to run into Michael Jordan and the Bulls.
“Rest in Peace, Big O,” the Suns wrote in tribute in a post on X.
He had been an inaugural member of the Raptors franchise in 1995.
“The Toronto Raptors are saddened to learn of the passing of Oliver Miller, who spent three seasons with our organization,” they wrote in a statement. “He holds a special place in our history as a member of our inaugural team in 1995, and we are so grateful for all his contributions. We send our deepest condolences to the Miller family.”
Miller averaged 7.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game during his NBA career and played for overseas and semipro teams following the 1999-2000 NBA season.
He returned to the NBA for one final season in 2003-04.
Joan Pingree
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