Brandon Miller

For even NBA history’s most talented Year One players, the opportunity to prove their organization right can take weeks, months, or even years. For the Charlotte Hornets and 2023 No. 2 pick Brandon Miller, the ready-or-not moment arrived with express shipping, in the heart of the fourth quarter of his first-ever game. With the list of factors capable of disrupting his debut growing increasingly larger — from foul trouble to the Atlanta Hawks’ defense to the immediate pressures of late-game basketball — the Hornets rookie was, ironically, unflappable. Calm and collected, Miller introduced himself with unselfish playmaking, crowd-igniting above-the-rim activity, and a smooth perimeter stroke. Saving his best for last, Miller erupted for an eight-points-in-two-minutes outburst, supplying Charlotte a lead it wouldn't relinquish on October 25, 2023. Miller set the groundwork for a season that would include a top-five finish in clutch field goal percentage (among 136 players with at least 20 clutch shots), a three-month Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month sweep, and a nod as a 2023-24 Rookie of the Year finalist. Prompt in his impact, Miller stabilized the Hornets with 13 points, three rebounds, two dimes, and three 3-pointers in 24 minutes.

Three-Star Rookie