‘Last Dance' director: Reggie Miller interview ‘took us a while' to get

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Episode 9 of “The Last Dance” lasered in on the 1998 Eastern Conference finals between the Bulls and the Pacers — specifically, the blood feud between Reggie Miller and Michael Jordan.

Perhaps that’s a bit strong, but Miller and Jordan did have some scraps in the past. Their rivalry was contentious on the court, albeit with apparent mutual mutual respect off of it.

“He and I had somewhat of a unique relationship,” Miller said in the documentary. “Most people feared Michael Jordan, and rightfully so. But I didn’t fear Michael Jordan like the rest of the league did, and we had to lock horns over it.

“I respected him so much, but he probably thought I was just some mouthy, skinny kid.”

Jordan paid the respect back in a behind-the-scenes dap-up during the Eastern Conference finals caught on film by “The Last Dance” camera people. He also called the Pacers the toughest opponent the Bulls encountered in the East during the championship years — Bad Boy Pistons aside.

That set the stage for the hard-nose, seven-game bout in 1998, which featured tense moments and big shots all around. Miller and Jordan’s combined narration were essential to for chronicling their relationship and battles.

But apparently, getting Miller for the documentary at all was no small task. “The Last Dance” director Jason Hehir described the process on the “Jalen & Jacoby Aftershow” on ESPN, which aired after the docuseries’ finale.

“It took us a while to get Reggie,” Hehir told Jalen Rose and David Jacoby. “We called and called and called and emailed and called and called and called, and finally he agreed to sit down. 

“I don’t know if he just wasn’t getting those calls or if he was avoiding them or what. But he gave a great interview. You gotta hand it to the guy, because I know it must sting still to this day to get that close, because that squad was incredible.”

Rose, a teammate to Miller for five-and-a-half years in Indiana, added that he initially led recruiting efforts to get Miller to give an interview for the documentary, but that it took him a while to come around.

“I was trying to initially get him to interview for this doc, and he ain’t want to do it,” Rose said on the show. “It was too much pain.”

As one of only two teams to take the Bulls to seven games in a championship season, the Pacers do deserve some modicum of recognition. But for a team that never reached the mountain top, that nod will likely never be enough.

Still, shoutout to Miller for coming through, and delivering with a couple especially memorable bites in Episodes 8 and 9. His perspective was invaluable.

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