Douglas C. Pizac / AP

Former Utah Jazz star Karl Malone, right, gets a hug from team owner Larry Miller on Feb. 13, 2005 after Malone announced his retirement in Salt Lake City.

He also had a lighter side, which showed when he donned an old-fashioned Jazz uniform for a game in 2004 when the team was celebrating its 25th season in Utah. The short shorts and jersey were a snug fit on the portly owner, who completed the late ’70s ensemble with purple wrist bands and walked onto the court after introductions as if he were going to take the opening tip.

Miller’s ownership years also included some turmoil, most notably with the always vocal Malone. One of the top players in NBA history, Malone wasn’t quite untouchable when Miller felt the power forward was saying things in the wrong place or at the wrong time.

Their public spats during Malone’s time with the Jazz included hints he may want to be traded or threats to leave as a free agent. One of their last clashes came late in the 2002-03 season, when Malone was near the end of his contract and suggested publicly that the Jazz may have wanted the 39-year-old to move on.

“I’ve put up with them. I’m not going to put up with them now. If he wants to get into a (public shouting) contest, let’s go,” Miller said before a game in April 2003. “To throw disruptive hand grenades is not right. It’s not fair to his teammates. It’s not fair to the coaches. It’s not fair to the franchise. It’s not fair to me.”

The clashes of fiercely strong personalities always ended with Miller and Malone simmering down, then talking out the problem. When Malone finally ended his career in Utah by signing a free-agent deal with the Lakers, Miller tearfully wished him well.

There was never any doubt Miller would retire Malone’s No. 32, which the Jazz did in 2006, and Miller added to his legacy with a bronze statue of Malone that stands next to Stockton’s outside the arena.

After Stockton retired and Malone left for the Lakers, many speculated the team from the obscure state with the funny liquor laws wouldn’t last without its marquee players. Miller was never among the skeptics and a few years later shook his reputation for being tight with money by paying big in free agency.

The Jazz signed Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur in 2004, then a year later drafted point guard Deron Williams to set a new foundation that had Utah back in the playoffs in 2007.

More on Larry Miller  |  Utah Jazz

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Brian Snyder / Reuters

Not in their house

  Rajon Rondo had 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 85-75 in Game 7 on Saturday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

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MIAMI (AP) - LeBron James shook a few hands, slapped a few fives, gave a few hugs.

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