Exploring the Reggie Miller-Steve Alford Link in ‘Stranger Things’

The fifth season of the popular Netflix series “Stranger Things” takes viewers back to 1987 in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. This season features a cultural nod to Indiana’s basketball scene, especially surrounding two notable players: Reggie Miller and Steve Alford.

Reggie Miller’s NBA Debut

Reggie Miller was drafted by the Indiana Pacers as the 11th overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft, coming out of UCLA. This historic moment is highlighted in the series, which coincides with his actual NBA debut on November 6, 1987.

Context of the Draft

• Miller was selected while Steve Alford, a highly regarded local talent, was available.
• Alford was picked by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the same draft.

Alford, who hails from New Castle, Indiana, was a standout player at Indiana University. He won the Mr. Basketball title in his senior year of high school and later led the Hoosiers to an NCAA championship in 1987.

The Display of Basketball Rivalry

In a memorable scene from Season 5, two soldiers debate whether Alford would have performed better than Miller in his debut. Their conversation highlights the local pride in Alford and the surprise at the Pacers’ decision to draft Miller instead.

Debut Statistics and Performance

On the night of his debut, Miller scored 10 points, shooting 4-for-6 from the field, while contributing one rebound, two assists, and three steals. Unfortunately, the Pacers lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 108-95.

Steve Alford also made his first professional appearance on the same night, scoring six points and offering five assists for the Mavericks. However, his performance was not depicted in the show.

Legacy of Reggie Miller and Steve Alford

Reggie Miller had a remarkable career with the Pacers, playing for 18 seasons. He became the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made, scoring a total of 25,279 points. Throughout his career, Miller was selected to five All-Star teams and named to the All-NBA team three times.

• In 2021, Miller was honored as a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
• He led the Pacers to six Eastern Conference Finals and one NBA Finals appearance in 2000.

On the other hand, Steve Alford played four years in the NBA, spending time with the Mavericks and Golden State Warriors, averaging 4.4 points per game. After his playing career, he transitioned to coaching and has been leading the Nevada Wolf Pack since 2019.

The dynamic between Miller and Alford reflects a significant chapter in Indiana basketball history, drawing interest from fans both in the 1980s and today.