Hornets take Brandon Miller with No. 2 pick over Scoot Henderson
With the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets selected Alabama freshman forward Brandon Miller.
Charlotte opted for Miller over G League star Scoot Henderson, ending weeks of speculation over who would emerge as the second overall pick. Henderson was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the next selection.
Miller averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and almost a steal and a block in 32.6 minutes per contest in his lone season with the Crimson Tide. He was named the SEC Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year and a consensus second-team All-American selection.
At 6-foot-9, Miller is an offensively versatile forward who can create shots for his teammates and three-point opportunities for himself. The 20-year-old has also shown flashes of superb perimeter defending. Miller should be an immediate impact player the moment he steps into the league.
Bio
Position: Forward
School: Alabama
College experience: Freshman
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 200 lbs
Wingspan: N/A
Max vertical: N/A
2022-23 stats with Alabama
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 43.0 | 38.4 | 85.9 | 8.2 | 2.1 | 18.8 |
Strengths
- Shooting. Miller averaged almost three 3-pointers on 7.5 attempts and knocked down 3.9 free throws per game at an 85.9% clip. Shot mechanics look crisp and clean, and he moves effortlessly to create space for motion looks.
- Willing and decisive passer within the flow of the offense. Makes the right play out of pick-and-roll situations, finding the roller or open shooters when the defense collapses.
- Led Alabama with 8.2 rebounds per game. Can push the pace and create opportunities in transition for himself or his teammates.
- Can defend ball-handling wings, using his length and lateral quickness to hinder individual offense. Also hustles to navigate screens against other players.
Weaknesses
- Needs to add muscle and strength to withstand the physicality of a full NBA season.
- Not a versatile defender at the forward position. Has trouble against bigger and stronger players, limiting his defensive ceiling.
- Struggled when the lights shined bright. His efficiency fell over the last part of the season, culminating in a historically bad March Madness run. He's the only player since 1960 to shoot under 20% in an NCAA Tournament with at least 40 attempts.
NBA comparable: Paul George. It's only fair to compare Miller to the player he sees similarities. Miller will most likely come into the league a bit more ready to compete offensively with his shooting touch and connectivity on offense. However, he'll need time to potentially reach George's prowess defensively as a switchable wing who can guard bigger players as he grows into his frame.