"He was the guy who always wanted to take the shot," Reiswerg said. "He always wanted the ball in his hands."

The Pacers never won a championship during Miller's career, but he was their key player as the franchise gained its first taste of success in years after joining the NBA in 1976. The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals six times and the NBA Finals once during his career.

"He's the most significant player in the last 20 years, maybe 30," Walsh said. "Since our ABA days. Reggie is the one who made our transformation to the NBA real."

Joe Reiswerg said Miller's absence tells as much about him as his presence did. The Pacers fell to 35-36 with a 114-104 loss Thursday to the Phoenix Suns.

"It's obvious the team misses him," he said. "He was the heart and soul of the team. He held that team together. Now, they're a ship without a rudder."

It was the first such ceremony for the Pacers in more than a decade. Leonard's was the most recent, in 1996. Brown, McGinnis and Daniels were honored in a joint ceremony in 1985. All were with the team during the late-1960s to mid-1970s, when the Pacers won three ABA championships.

Miller said he was honored to be in such company.

"I'm not comfortable with it, but I'll take it."