Pacers legend Reggie Miller likes potential No. 1 pick Chet Holmgren's brash confidence

James Boyd
Indianapolis Star
Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren against Arkansas in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in San Francisco on March 24.

Pacers legend Reggie Miller approves of Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren's brash confidence.

Holmgren, the potential No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, was recently asked by Bleacher Report who he thinks is the best player in the NBA. The 7-footer's response?

"Myself in two months."

While others may advise Holmgren to be humble, Miller, known for his supreme confidence and trash talking, believes Holmgren is already showing his competitiveness.

"I actually like this response," Miller commented on Instagram. "Now it puts an even bigger target on him, but give me dudes who take steps forward and aren't scared as opposed to players moonwalking.."

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NBA Draft 2022:Indiana Pacers have options with No. 6 pick

Indiana Pacers' Reggie Miller reacts to hitting the game winning 3 point shot with .07 seconds left in the game. The Pacers beat Chicago 96-94 in game #4 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Market Square Arena on Monday, May 25, 1998.

Miller starred at UCLA and was drafted 11th overall by Indiana in 1987. The 6-7 guard spent his entire 18-year career with the Pacers and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.

Holmgren averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game for the Bulldogs. He was named the West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus Second-Team All-American.

Big decisions:'Do we get really aggressive?' Pacers president Kevin Pritchard weighs No. 6 pick options

The 20-year-old will take the next step in his budding career on draft night slated for June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Orlando, Oklahoma City, Houston, Sacramento and Detroit will select first through fifth, respectively.

The Pacers landed the No. 6 pick, their first single-digit pick since 1989, and don't have a realistic shot at Holmgren, Auburn's Jabari Smith or Duke's Paolo Banchero unless they trade up. Team president Kevin Pritchard said all possibilities are on the table.

"The gamut of what we can do is wide and wider than I've ever seen ever in my time in this league, and I like that because now we get to get on the board and look at every scenario," Pritchard said. "There won't be one. There won't be two. There might 50 things we'll look (at) up on the board, and that's when you can be aggressive."

Follow IndyStar Pacers beat writer James Boyd on Twitter: @RomeovilleKid. Reach him via email: jboyd1@gannett.com.