As the final buzzer sounds on their playing careers, many NBA stars are drawn to the spotlight of broadcasting. Legends like Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Dwyane Wade have built successful post-career personas as analysts, translating on-court experience into captivating insights for basketball enthusiasts. For some, this transition goes beyond mere exposure – it’s a chance to continue shaping the NBA narrative.

For Jalen Rose, the opportunity to return as an analyst comes with a twist. The former NBA star has chosen NBC for his media comeback, positioning him on a rival network to his ex-teammate, Reggie Miller, who remains a mainstay with TNT. As per New York Post, Rose will be a studio analyst for “Big Ten College Countdown” airing on NBC’s Peacock streaming service beginning this Friday.

Rose was a longtime NBA analyst at ESPN before he was laid off in a shocking round of cuts last year that also included stars like Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Todd McShay, Max Kellerman, Steve Young, Keyshawn Johnson, Suzy Kolber and Matt Hasselbeck.

On the other side of things, Reggie Miller joined TNT as an NBA analyst in 2005, just after the Hall of Fame guard retired from an 18 year NBA career with the Indiana Pacers. Miller made the transition to the broadcasting world effortlessly and very soon, he became a vital voice, in basketball commentary.

“Look, obviously I would be saddened if we don’t have a seat at the table. I’ve only known two things basically in my whole life— 18 years with the Indiana Pacers, one team, and going on 19 years with Turner. Think about that,” said Miller about his current thoughts on Turner (as per SI).

The statistics and history of the Rose-Miller dynamic is deep. Miller and Rose made up a large part of the Indiana Pacers’ success in the late 1990s and early 2000s as Miller’s legendary shooting and Rose’s versatile play took the team a long ways in the playoffs.

In 1996 Rose joined the Pacers, where he, under Miller’s guidance, flourished, averaging over 18 points per game as the Pacers made the Finals for the first and only time in 2000. They became one of the team’s most potent offensive duos, pairing Miller’s perimeter shooting — second in NBA history with 2,560 career 3-pointers — with Rose’s driving and playmaking.

When Jalen Rose chose Reggie Miller over another player

Rose and Miller complemented each other perfectly on the court, with Miller’s unparalleled shooting ability stretching defenses and creating lanes for Rose’s drives and mid-range game. However, in the three-point shooting category, Ray Allen and Reggie Miller are two names that always come to mind and Rose once settled the debate.

Despite Allen breaking Miller’s record for career three-pointers, Rose believes Miller’s impact and style set him apart. “Right behind Reggie. Ray-Ray, right in the mix. He’s next. He’s right there. If I played with him 6 years, I’d probably swap him with Reggie. But I didn’t. If he was my older brother, I’d probably swap him. But he ain’t. Ray’s right there, but I gotta give my guy Reggie the nod,” said Rose in an interview with GQ.

Ray Allen, while renowned for his skill and efficiency, benefited from a more three-point-centered era. Rose acknowledges Allen’s greatness but places Miller’s style a notch higher.