Mike Miller sidelined by hernia surgery; out for up to 8 weeks

Talk about it

Mike Miller has been sidelined by hernia surgery for up to eight weeks.

The Mitchell native and 12-year NBA veteran confirmed Thursday he has undergone surgery Tuesday. An ESPN report said Miller is expected to miss at least a month of the 2011-2012 season, which opens on Christmas.

“I’m doing better,” Miller said in a text message to ESPN.com. “When it rains it pours. I just can’t catch a break right now.”

This was the third time Miller, 31, has undergone surgery since the NBA season ended with the Heat falling to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.

He had shoulder surgery and thumb surgery during the summer.

Miller also underwent thumb surgery in the preseason after getting his thumb caught in teammate LeBron James’ jersey in practice before the start of the 2010-2011 season.

He was also treated for concussion symptoms.

In addition, Miller and his wife, Jen, spent hours in a hospital during the 2011 playoffs after their daughter Jaelyn was born with a serious health issue. The couple also has two sons, Mason and Mavrick.

Miller reportedly missed the opening day of unsupervised workouts at the Miami Heat facility and forward Udonis Haslem, a Miller teammate on the Heat and in their college days at the University of Florida, told reporters he had undergone surgery.

ESPN said the surgery could mean more than missed games. It may mean the end of Miller’s troubled tenure in Miami.

According to an online report, “Under the tentative collective bargaining agreement, teams can use an amnesty provision that would allow the team to release a player and remove his salary off the books.

“Under the rules, teams still would be required to pay the player’s contract, but it would provide salary-cap relief. Miller was seen as an amnesty candidate for the Heat, because he is owed $24 million in the next four seasons and on the books for $5.4 million this season.”

Miller averaged only 5.6 points in 41 games in the 2010-2011 season. He has averaged 13.2 ppg in his career and was the 2001 rookie of the year.

Tags: mike miller, sports, updates, heat, basketball