Baba Miller is already settling into his NBA landing spot, and he’s not hiding how much he likes what he’s found with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The former Cincinnati standout, selected 36th overall in last month’s draft, is now in California ahead of Summer League and took part in a full media session before he begins game action this month. For Miller, the move marks a major step after becoming the first Bearcats draft pick since Jacob Evans III in 2018.
“It was great, just knowing that I was going to be able to have a chance to be on an NBA team was crazy, and especially the Clippers, a great organization," Miller told the media in a scrum. "I came here, worked out, got to meet the front office, and I feel like I was just really happy that I was able to go somewhere where I feel like they understand what I can bring to the team and who I can become eventually, and they believe in me. So I'm really happy."
That fit matters for a player like Miller, whose game brings a little bit of everything. The 6-foot-11 forward flashed the kind of versatility that makes teams take notice, even if the jumper kept him from hearing his name in the first round.
He shot 29% from three in college on 279 attempts, then dipped to 19% last season. Still, he finished by becoming the first Bearcat since Oscar Robertson to lead the team in points, rebounds, and assists over a full season.
That’s the kind of all-around profile that can keep a player in the league if the shot catches up.
Miller’s size and skill set give him a real path, especially if he keeps using his handle and pace the way he has throughout his career. Staying in the NBA long enough to earn a second contract would be a major milestone, and UC hasn’t seen that from a player since Lance Stephenson put together a 10-plus year run at the start of the last decade.
Miller said his ball-handling didn’t come out of nowhere.
“I feel like that came pretty early,” Miller said about his ball-handling abilities being so strong for his size. “I started playing the wing when I was probably like 14-15, and from then on until college I kind of played on the perimeter, and then when I got to college was where I kind of started playing inside again, playing more of the big, and I feel like kind of just translated into a role at Cincinnati, where I was able to do both, kind of handle the ball, playmake for my teammates, and at the same time still be able to guard different positions, set pick and rolls, be a lob threat, run the rim.
“So I feel like everywhere I've been, I kind of picked up on stuff, and it's helped me become who I am today.”
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Jerrod Calhoun has not exactly hidden his appetite for bigger games, either. The Cincinnati coach has talked openly about wanting Ohio State on the schedule more regularly, and he has pointed to the programs recent momentum as proof the Bearcats belong in those conversations, from their league success to their NCAA Tournament win and the competitive showing against Arizona. For a fan base that wants more marquee nights, this is the sort of development worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]