Mike Miller
It’s been a while, but you can’t make a Thunder villain list without Mike Miller Thunder Killer. I mean, it’s in his name right?
Miller’s villainy dates back to 2012, where in game five of the finals, he scored 23 points on 7 of 8 threes to clinch the series for Miami. The fact that he was able to do it with an injured back, ankle, shoulder and thumb makes it even more infuriating.
I totally forgot about this, but the Thunder almost signed Mike Miller. The Heat had to let him go due to financial constraints. Miller was at one point highly considering the Thunder, but ultimately chose to go back to Memphis, where he played from 2003-2008. A common theme of the Thunder’s early contending years was an inability to land free agents. Miller is one of the prime examples of this. He would have been the perfect bench player to spread the floor and hit threes. Alas, Miller fooled the Thunder and made them pay for it.
Mller reprised his role as the Thunder killer, during the 2014 West Quarterfinals. In a game two win, he hit three of four threes, including a go-ahead shot with 54 seconds left. In a game five win, Miller scored 21 points, going 5-8 from downtown. The Grizzlies only won that game by one point.
I originally wanted to put Miller a spot or two higher on this list, but totally overestimated how great he actually was. That’s what happens when you are the unofficial Thunder killer. But I can’t mention Miller without bringing up one of the most iconic and legendary moments in Thunder and NBA history. You know what I’m talking about… that time Kendrick Perkins sat on Miller and refused to get up. What a memory.