Greg Miller assumes much control, with Larry as Jazz's last line of defense

Published: Thursday, July 17, 2008 7:55 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
If there is one holding Larry H. Miller can't stand to stay away from, it may be the Jazz.

So while eldest son Greg Miller was promoted Wednesday to chief executive officer of the Sandy-based Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, a broad umbrella of business and sports-related ventures that encompasses the NBA franchise, it remains to be seen just how much the ailing Jazz owner will stay involved in the team's day-to-day operations.

The likelihood seems a lot.

But no one's sure.

"I respect the fact that he's still the owner, and he can do whatever he wants," said Greg Miller, a 42-year-old father of six from Sandy who most recently has been overseeing development of, and operations at, the family owned Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele County. "I wouldn't expect anything to change. He's a very hands-on guy, and I know that he enjoys his involvement with the Utah Jazz."

In fact, Miller added, "I don't know if he'll back off."

Yet 64-year-old Larry Miller has been hospitalized for five weeks with complications from type-2 diabetes, and even after Greg Miller held a hastily called news conference Wednesday night, it's unclear in the long term just how much the Jazz's recuperating owner will desire — and be able — to handle.

Story continues below

"I would expect it to be more measured going forward, rather than just seat-of-the-pants, going-as-hard-as-you-can every day," said Greg Miller, adding he anticipates his father will become more involved in philanthropic efforts. "I would expect it to be more paced, and he'll decide when enough's enough.

"If he wants to continue the way he's done (with the Jazz), nobody's going to stop him," Miller added. "And if he says, 'You know, I've had enough, I'm going to go fishing,' then we'll deal with that, too. We're prepared to handle any scenario."

As it stands, though, Greg Miller — who also will serve with his three brothers, mother Gail and others on a newly formed governing board for the Miller companies, of which Larry Miller is chairman — admittedly knows little about daily Jazz operations.

He suggested he has no knowledge of details regarding the team's most-pressing matter at the moment, ongoing negotiations of a contract extension for starting point guard Deron Williams.

He said Larry Miller will retain for now his seat on the NBA's Board of Governors — the management body overseeing league operations — but that potential succession to the seat will be discussed sometime in the future.

And he readily admits to being not nearly the basketball junkie Larry Miller is.

"I don't think it would be accurate to say that I'm as interested as Larry is," said Greg Miller, who regularly attends Jazz games — but rarely seems as involved as his emotionally charged front-row father. "But the fact is I don't have as much at stake as Larry does. Someday I will.

Recent comments

Greg,
No one should ever question your abilty you are very smart,...

Anonymous | Feb. 20, 2009 at 9:21 p.m.

Well, Greg has taken over for Larry H., as far as operations go. But...

RoverMan | July 18, 2008 at 3:33 p.m.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

> Every single student I know with whom he came in contact adored him. I...

Very intelligent, chrismatic, and socialy gifted people easily eliciting the...

Boozer doesn't have that much value until he gets games under his belt. Calm...

IF BOOZER AND MILSAP ARE WORTH 12.8 AND 8 MILLION A YEAR THEY HAVE TO BE...

I have an idea, lets tax the people who go to years and years of school and...

Your right borhter pratt is a good man but its still a crime that hurt more...

I hope everything goes well for the owner and the family and the employs god...

Obama controls all

Just give you an example? Hows this: all of these social programs and huge...

A smart veto

Carron; now show us the right way on illegal aliens. You know what the...

Life in the "Land of the Free." Bush lied about wire taps. Bush believed our...

Advertisements