Oliver ” Big O” Miller, a professional basketball player for the NBA entered rest on Wednesday March 12, 2025. He played and graduated from Fort Worth’s Southwest High School before committing and playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Oliver J. Miller Jr. was born on April 6, 1970, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Oliver J. Miller Sr. and Annie Pearl Jackson Miller. He attended Fort Worth public schools and graduated from Southwest High School in 1988. A gifted athlete, Oliver was an integral part of his high school basketball team, leading them to regional championships each year and earning a place in the state tournament. His exceptional talent attracted recruitment offers from universities across the nation, ultimately leading him to play under the renowned coach Nolan Richardson at the University of Arkansas, where he made a significant impact over four years.
In 1992, Oliver was selected as the 22nd overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. He was a key member of the Suns team that competed against the Chicago Bulls in the 1993 NBA Finals. His professional career extended across multiple teams, including the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, and Minnesota Timberwolves. Beyond the NBA, he showcased his talents with the Harlem Globetrotters and played internationally, further cementing his legacy in the world of basketball.
In his retirement, Oliver loved golfing and played in several competitive tournaments.
Beyond sports, Oliver was a man of deep faith. Baptized at a young age by Reverend Isadore Edwards, Jr., he was an active member of the New Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church. Later, he joined Great Commission where he contributed as a dedicated member of the media team. While in Phoenix, he continued his service as a devoted member of Pilgrim Rest Church and was an esteemed member of the church’s security team.
Oliver J. Miller Jr. will be remembered not only for his remarkable contributions to basketball but also for his unwavering faith, kindness, and the deep love he held for his family and community. His presence will be deeply missed, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
Oliver was preceded in death by his grandparents, Melvin and Alisa Miller, Theapolis and Clara Jackson, and his brother, Anthony Wilson.
He leaves behind a loving family who will cherish his memory forever. He is survived by his beloved mother, father, sons Xavier (Mina) and Ismael (Brenda). His legacy lives on through his cherished grandsons, (the love of his life) Xyris, Ammar, and Ezra. He is also survived by his sisters, Donyha and F. Lisa, and a host of family and friends.
Oliver J. Miller, nicknamed “The Big O” for his size, was a former NBA center and University of Arkansas basketball player. In 1990, he helped the Razorbacks reach the Final Four. In 1992, the Phoenix Suns selected Miller 22nd overall in the NBA draft. He played for nine seasons in the NBA for the Suns, Raptors, Pistons, Mavericks, Kings, and Timberwolves. Miller was a key contributor to the Suns reaching the 1993 NBA Finals.