Reggie Miller, Spike Lee, and Mike Tyson may not have much in common when you first think about them. Once you throw in Miller’s ex-wife, it becomes even harder to find a connection.
In reality, these four helped build a moment that would live on in NBA glory forever.
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In this article, we’ll delve into the origins of the Reggie Miller vs. Spike Lee rivalry, tracing the events that set the stage for Miller’s explosive 25-point fourth quarter in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.
Related: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers rivalry
In 1992, former boxing champion Mike Tyson was on a quest to regain his title after suffering a shocking loss to Buster Douglas in 1990. Tyson fought hard, defeating several opponents, and eventually set up a matchup with then-champion Evander Holyfield.
Yes, everyone is aware of the two fights between these boxing legends, particularly the second one where Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear. However, did you know that they were scheduled to fight on November 8, 1991?
Unfortunately for boxing fans, the fight would not happen. First, Tyson tore cartilage in his rib during training, which postponed the fight. Then, on February 10, 1992, Tyson was found guilty of rape and sentenced to six years in an Indiana prison.
The Mike Tyson bet
Filmmaker Spike Lee, who found fame after directing movies like Do The Right Thing and Malcolm X, was a big Mike Tyson fan. He also loved the New York Knicks.
Lee and the entire Knicks fanbase already had a growing dislike for the Pacers following their 1993 first-round playoff series. The Knicks won the series, but Miller got into their heads, especially John Starks.
Starks head-butted Miller in Game 3, causing his teammate, Patrick Ewing, to push and scream at him. This led to more drama as Starks’ mother threatened Ewing after the game.
When the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals arrived, tensions were certainly high between the Pacers and Knicks. The Knicks were hungry to get back to their first NBA Finals since 1973, and with Michael Jordan retired, nothing could stop them. Right?
The Reggie Miller vs. Spike Lee rivalry begins
New York certainly wasn’t afraid of a team from Indiana, but after the first four games, the series was tied at 2-2. Knicks fans weren’t too worried, however.
Their team won both games in New York and returning to The Big Apple for Game 5 meant the Knicks should easily win.
While the crowd would cheer loudly for their Knicks, no fan would scream louder than Spike Lee. Most people believed Miller and Lee always disliked each other, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Lee and Miller were friendly with each other, despite the newfound rivalry the Pacers and Knicks were having. Before the series started, Miller made an interesting bet with Lee.
The bet was this: If the Pacers win the series, Lee would have to put Miller’s then-wife, Marita Stavrou, in his next movie. If the Knicks win, Miller would have to visit Tyson in his Indiana prison.
The 25-point fourth quarter explosion
In Game 5, the Knicks were showing the Pacers why they were the superior team. New York led 70-58 after three quarters, and Miller, in particular, was struggling.
Miller had scored just 14 points through three quarters on 6-17 shooting, including 1-6 from three. After every miss, Lee taunted him with trash talk.
Frustrated, Miller decided to send a message.
Miller went ballistic in the fourth, scoring 25 points on 7-9 shooting and 5-5 from three. His five made three-pointers tied a playoff quarter record at the time.
After every make, Miller stared and talked trash to Lee. This includes his famous “choke” sign, which Tyrese Haliburton just recreated.
For Lee, all he could do was sit back and watch. The Pacers stormed back to win 93-86, taking a 3-2 lead in the series.
The conclusion of the bet
Miller became an instant star in the league. Unfortunately, the Pacers couldn’t seal the deal and reach the NBA Finals.
The Knicks tied the series with a big Game 6 victory in Indiana. Then, New York secured the series victory with an Ewing put-back dunk with 26.9 seconds left in Game 7. The Knicks won 94–90.
The Pacers lost the series, which meant Miller’s wife lost her role in Lee’s next film. Miller now had to visit Tyson—which he did… or at least he tried.
Miller’s visit, however, wouldn’t go exactly as planned.
“We lost and I held up my end of the bargain. I actually went to the prison to visit Mike,” Miller told Kimmel. “I stayed in the waiting room for three hours thinking Mike was going to come out and we’re going to be behind the glass, we’re going to be picking up the phone, ‘Hey champ, what’s going on?’ The brother never came out!”
(Starts at 4:14)
Lee’s actions led to one of the greatest playoff performances we’ve ever seen, and it birthed the incredible Reggie Miller vs. Spike Lee rivalry.
