Before establishing himself as one of the NBA’s smartest players over a remarkable 17-year career, Andre Miller refined his playmaking abilities during four standout years with the University of Utah Utes.
Although he was born and raised in Los Angeles, he admitted that he rarely returned home during his college years.
Advertisement
Instead, he chose to spend his summers in Salt Lake City, where he had the unique opportunity to learn from and play alongside Utah Jazz legends such as John Stockton, Jeff Hornacek and Karl Malone.
During his appearance on the “All The Smoke” podcast, Andre reminisced about that special time, remembering the generosity of Hornacek, who took time from his offseason schedule to give him shooting pointers and the toughness of Stockton, who never failed to remind him he was far from being in NBA shape.
It was all about hoops in Utah
Utah may not be the top choice for NBA players when it comes to destinations. While it offers some nightlife, it pales in comparison to the lively scenes of Los Angeles, Miami, or New York.
Advertisement
But for Andre, it was the perfect place to focus on his craft and elevate his game.
“I learned so much in Utah. And the good thing about Utah for me was that, you know, it was no football to compete with. It was just the Jazz and the Utah youth basketball and everything that goes around the university,” he shared. “So, you know, once I left Los Angeles in high school, I only came home one time. One time out of five years of being in Utah, because every summer I was looking for those guys (the Jazz players) and they worked out through the summer.”
As the NBA season neared, Miller said the Jazz players began playing more and more pickup basketball, which he had the honor of being a part of. However, he shared that these games weren’t the ordinary run-of-the-mill pickup games.
Advertisement
“I want to play pickup ball, but their pickup ball was running UCLA cuts. I mean, like, they doing this for pickup ball,” Miller recalled. “So I learned a lot from Jeff Hornacek, you know, and Bryon Russell — all those guys, man. I was just around them 24/7. Whenever I could find where they was at hooping, I was there all through Salt Lake.”
Andre learned the intricacies of the game
Miller wasn’t the typical guard in that he wasn’t that fast nor he could he jump out of the gym. But whatever he lacked in those areas, he made up for in his craftiness and high basketball IQ. He was a student of the game, always looking to learn and improve.
Advertisement
This fit right in with the Jazz ethos of hard work and dedication to the game.
“I remember one time Jeff Hornacek, like after two or three hours of playing basketball, he grabbed me and took me to the other end of the court ’cause he knew I wasn’t a great shooter,” Miller stated.
“He had me at the other end just giving me the game, you know what I’m saying? Like, man, that meant so much to me. For him to see that I’m a University of Utah player — he took time out of his schedule. This a grown man with family. ‘Hey, Miller, come over here. Get some shots up. Let me show you how to shoot this ball,'” he continued.
Advertisement
Miller added that Stockton, the league’s all-time leader in assists, was generous, too. It’s just that he was passing on vicious zingers to Miller about his physique.
“Stockton, man. Come on, man. I mean, he a legend in my eyes, you know what I’m saying? I mean, like — hey — he’s not so nice,” Andre remarked. “Like, if you come in with a little bit of flab on your stomach, he gonna let you know like, ‘Man, get off the court. You not in shape.’ Yeah, he was like that.”
It’s not surprising that Miller became one of the most reliable point guards the league had during the 2000s era.
Advertisement
While most players his age were learning the ropes, Miller was getting masterclasses from some of the best in the game.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.