Former NBA big man Oliver Miller dead at 54

Oliver Miller, known arsenic "Big O" during his playing days, has died astatine the property of 54.

Miller was a beefy halfway who helped Arkansas beforehand to the Final Four earlier playing 9 seasons successful the NBA.

Miller had been battling encephalon cancer.

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Miller, who stood astatine 6 feet, 9 inches and weighed astir 300 pounds, was a standout astatine Arkansas from 1988-92. He averaged 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds successful 4 seasons, helping Naismith Hall of Fame manager Nolan Richardson's 1989-90 squad scope the Final Four earlier losing to Duke and earning Southwest Conference Player of the Year honors successful 1991.

He was besides a portion of the Phoenix Suns squad that mislaid the 1992-93 NBA Finals to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls.

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Tributes poured successful from Miller's erstwhile teams.

"We are profoundly saddened by the passing of Arkansas fable Oliver Miller," Arkansas said successful a societal media post. "A cardinal subordinate of the 1990 Final Four team, an SWC Hall of Famer, a first-round NBA draught prime and a existent embodiment of the Razorback spirit. We emotion you Big O. Our thoughts are with his family."

The Raptors, which helium was connected the precise archetypal roster successful Toronto, said, "He holds a peculiar spot successful our past arsenic a subordinate of our inaugural squad successful 1995, and we are truthful grateful for each his contributions. We nonstop our deepest condolences to the Miller family."

Miller was drafted by Phoenix successful 1992 with the No. 22 wide pick. He went connected to mean 7.4 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Suns, Detroit Pistons, Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves. 

He besides played successful Europe, the Continental Basketball Association, the United States Basketball League and with the Harlem Globetrotters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.