CINCINNATI — C.J. Miles didn’t see the floor Wednesday night against his previous team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. But it wasn’t any big deal to the veteran shooting guard.
“It’s preseason,” Miles said with his usual grin. “We got plenty of time to see them. We’re in the same division so we see them four times. Not really (upset at not playing).”
After seven seasons in Utah, the 27-year-old played the last two seasons in Cleveland, the city in which LeBron James took a four-year hiatus from. Knowing before the game that he would be out for rest purposes and to allow other teammates to get some work, Miles planned to take mental notes and “pick things apart a little bit.”
Though we weren’t in Cleveland, he’s still a popular guy in his former locker room. As we talked outside the Pacers’ locker room, Miles paused numerous times to say hello to old friends.
First Cobra, the equipment manager, and then a team doctor. Cobra teased him about his plain black shoes, which weren’t like him.
“He’s used to me having a little more splash to it,” Miles said.
For the second straight year, Miles’ team was playing a preseason contest on a college campus. Last year in Cleveland, they played at Value City Arena at Ohio State.
“That was crazy,” he said. “I felt like that was a pretty good atmosphere. I had never really been to one really like that, where it was so packed and loud.”
Miles said he still remains close friends with Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, as well as Alonza Gee, who’s now a member of the Denver Nuggets.