This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Denver • Only eight players in NBA history have scored 15,000 points and handed out 7,000 assists.

Denver's Andre Miller is now one of them.

Miller scored his 15,000th career point in the Nuggets' 101-97 loss to Minnesota on Thursday night.

In his typically understated way, the former University of Utah point guard called it "… a nice individual accomplishment, but I would have liked to have won the game."

Miller was a junior when he quarterbacked Utah to the 1998 NCAA championship game, where the Utes lost to Kentucky.

At age 36, Miller averages 8.8 points and 5.7 assists in his 14th professional season.

"I've fought through certain things," he said, "but I've been able to go out there and make a career out of playing basketball."

Nothing, however, has compared to his days with the Utes.

"Regardless of any of the accomplishments that I've had in the NBA," Miller said, "my most fun times were at Utah and my college experience. …

"Whatever I've accomplished in the NBA really doesn't compare to the experience of a young kid [from Los Angeles] being able to go somewhere else and get an education."

Miller remembers Majerus

At Utah, Miller was coached by Rick Majerus, who died on Dec. 1 at the age of 64.

The two talked in July, just after Miller signed another contract with the Nuggets.

"We all knew he had some health issues throughout his career," Miller said. "But he gave me an opportunity to get an education and play basketball. …

"He taught me how to be a point guard [and] how to play at a high level — just the tricks and the different parts of basketball that helped me make a career out of this."

Calling Majerus "a big part of my development" as a player and person, Miller said, "I could go on and on about him, but he definitely did a lot for me."

Kanter still sidelined

The Jazz played their second straight game without backup center Enes Kanter, who is sidelined with a sprained ankle.

According to coach Tyrone Corbin, Kanter will be re-evaluated during the next 48 hours to determine his status for Monday night's game against Dallas at EnergySolutions Arena.

Twitter: @sluhm