NBA legend Reggie Miller mourns the death of his father Saul, a former Air Force veteran

Reggie Miller announced the death of his father Saul on Monday night, calling him his ‘guardian angel’ in a touching Instagram tribute.

Saul served 25 years in the Air Force and had five kids with his wife Carrie (including Reggie) – four of whom turned into elite athletes.

‘This HURTS.. The man who bought me my first set of baseball cleats, first basketball, who taught me to drown out all the outside noise and FOCUS is now and will forever be my guardian angel,’ Miller said on Instagram. 

‘Thanks Pops for EVERYTHING!!! Say hello to Mom for us, know that your teachings will live on [through] me to my kids.

‘.. Please respect my brothers and sisters during this time, though difficult he’s in a much better place.. #PopGuardianAngel.’

Saul was a jazz musician in Memphis during his younger years, and a high-level basketball player in his own right, going on to play at Lemoyne College, according to author Mark Montieth.

Saul Miller, father of Reggie, raised five children and served 25 years in the Air Force

Reggie was not the only basketball Hall of Famer in the family, as his sister Cheryl Miller was inducted as well in 1995.

His brother Darrell also became a pro baseball player, and his sister Tammy was a college volleyball player.

Saul’s wide range of influences impacted his children. 

‘Saul was/is jazzy cool, with flair and a hint of cockiness,’ Montieth wrote.

Reggie Miller has made the fourth-most three-pointers in NBA history, with 2,560 makes

Miller played his entire career for the Indiana Pacers, and is a five-time NBA All-Star

‘He would talk good-natured trash to his kids in games of H-O-R-S-E, for example. He also mastered self-discipline from his career in the Army, which he passed on to his kids. 

‘That’s why Reggie played the way he did, with a combination of ego, work ethic, flamboyance, respect for authority and discipline.’

Miller received an outpouring of well-wishes for his loss, with his former teammate Mark Jackson, TNT co-host Kenny Smith and football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens among those offering their condolences in response to his post.