Veteran wingman from Miami Heat opts out of back surgery to play when the regular season commences.
After the Miami Heat won the NBA championship last season, everyone expected Mike Miller to retire from the game. After all, Miller had just won the NBA championship with his team, was a critical reason for the success of his team,
and was nearing the end of his NBA career.
More than that, Miller had been suffering from injuries for the past two seasons, and played in the playoffs with a back injury that did not allow him to play extended minutes. And it was not only back, Miller was having injuries
trouble with his knee, shoulder, arm and ankles as well. It seemed as if all the wear and tear that his body endured through his extensive career in the NBA was now catching up to him. It was expected that after winning the NBA crown, he would bow out of the
game.
However, Miller is now preparing himself for the upcoming training camp at the American Airlines Arena.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel has reported that Miller will be participating in the Heat’s training camp, and that he has decided not to undergo back surgery to be able to play for Miami when the regular season started.
“After considering retirement during the NBA Finals and then contemplating back surgery at the completion of the Heat’s championship run, Miller is up and running and looking forward to the Sept. 29 start of training camp at American
Airlines Arena. “I basically looked at my options and back surgery, with Dr. Green pretty confident that we could get it to where I need to be without it. So we’re slowly but surely getting there. My body feels good. Like I said, we’ve just got to be smart
about it,” reported the Sentinel.
Miller will join a Miami team roster that will look quite different from last season. The Heat added Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to the roster during the offseason, both of whom are great perimeter players and three point specialists.
Miller, who is also a wingman, will have a limited role this season and probably play less minutes as well, which is good for him as well as the Miami team.
At the end of the day, Miller will still have the opportunity to contribute to the team while balancing his health and be a part of one more championship contender.
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