Indiana Basketball: Archie Miller ‘sickened’ by Kobe Bryant’s passing
By Alec Lasley
The Indiana basketball head coach grew up just hours away from Kobe Bryant and the two of them crossed paths multiple times.
Sunday was not only tough for Archie Miller based on the result on the court, but also as the world received the unexpected and extremely earth shattering news about Kobe Bryant’s death after getting involved in a helicopter accident that also took the lives of eight others, including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
Hearing of the news just 30 seconds before going in for his postgame press conference, Miller was shaken and at a loss for words when addressing the media.
Miller was born in Beaver Falls, PA just a few hours away from Ardmore where Bryant spent his early years. Both involved in basketball, and just two months apart, they rarely saw any action against each other on the court, but it was Miller’s dad who coached Bryant in the McDonald’s All-American game in 1996.
"“I just heard 30 seconds before I walked in here. … I know Kobe Bryant. He was a year older than me in high school … That can’t be real….,” Miller said. “He grew up in the state of Pennsylvania. He played for my dad in the McDonald’s All-American game.”"
A a year apart in high school, Bryant eventually went straight to the NBA from Lower Merion High School, while Miller played college basketball at N.C. State before getting into coaching, with their paths crossing often.
With very little positive to come from the day and even the basketball world over the weekend, Miller did try to offer any sort of silver lining.
"“I guess if there’s a silver lining, man, you look at your players. You know, it’s not the end of the world that we lost this game when you think about what’s going on with other people,” Miller said. “It puts it into perspective a little bit. That’s just an unbelievable tragedy.”"
Outside of Miller, most of the Indiana basketball program didn’t have a strong relationship, or a relationship at all, with Kobe Bryant but his impact still played a huge role in the lives of everyone on the roster.
Next. Jerome Hunter Coming Into Own After Breakout Game. dark
Kobe Bryant was a transcendent talent, but that talent extended to more than just on the basketball court. Gone too soon, players – current, former, and future – will always know who ‘Kobe’ is. He will never be forgotten.