After completing a season in the NBA G League, former IU forward Miller Kopp needed a place to train to ready himself for the Summer League.
His former head coach at Indiana has said on multiple occasions the door is always open for former players.
“Even if you left me on bad or good terms, I’m going to tell you ‘Hey my phone is always open if you need me,’” IU coach Mike Woodson said on a recent podcast. “Because it ain’t about me man, it’s about these young men and how they develop as they move on in life — that’s what it’s about.”
When Kopp decided to call Woodson to see if he could train in Bloomington, he found out immediately those words ring true.
“I came up here (to Bloomington) a month before Summer League, knowing that would be the best place for me to train and improve. But first I called Woody up and asked him if I could workout at IU, and he was like ‘Of course, duh, get your butt up here,'” Kopp said.
A Texas native, Kopp was at IU in June as his former head coach and staff began workouts with the new team. And Kopp still felt like he was part of the program.
“It was more than I could ever imagine, the support from the current staff, the players, the managers, Woody, everybody involved, it’s awesome,” Kopp said.
Kopp was able to be around Woodson’s new team for the 2024-25 season, and even get in some workouts with them.
What does he think about the outlook for Indiana next season?
“They’re a really good group of guys. High character guys, which I think is the biggest thing when it comes to building a team,” Kopp said. “Talent is one thing, but they’re doing a good job of focusing on connectivity and cohesiveness as a group off the court, which I think will translate to on the court. It will be a really exciting group if they can put it together, which I think they will.”
Kopp played the 2023-24 season for the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA’s G League. That team won the league title with Kopp averaging 6.3 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 31.1 percent from three.
He was with the NBA franchise in July for the Summer League and played in six total games.
Kopp says he isn’t sure about his next move basketball wise.
It could be another year in the G League, or perhaps he’ll look overseas.
But the last few days playing for Assembly Ball in The Basketball Tournament has provided more time in Bloomington, and Kopp says he has just enjoyed being an ambassador for the program that has shown him they have his back.
“It was awesome. It was really cool to put on the colors again, even though it wasn’t exactly for the Hoosiers, it was still representing the brand, the school and the program,” he said.
“I’m really grateful I was able to do it. I wear it as a badge of honor knowing I representing Indiana.”
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