Brandon Miller listed as ‘sleeper’ for prestigious individual award
By Adam Taylor
Brandon Miller will enter his rookie season with the Charlotte Hornets with significant expectations. The Alabama Crimson Tide product was selected with the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, a spot that many believed should have been taken by Scoot Henderson of the G League Ignite.
Miller will be among an elite list of rookies this year, including Henderson, Chet Holmgren, and Victor Wembanyama. However, on a Hornets team that struggled for offensive efficiency last season, Miller could play a significant role in their rotation.
As such, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey believes Miller could be a ‘sleeper’ to win the Rookie of the Year race, even though he will face some stern competition for the coveted award.
"“It’s hard to pick against the top three in Rookie of the Year odds,” Bailey wrote. “The path to the award is pretty easy to see for Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren or Scoot Henderson…With Kelly Oubre Jr. presumably not coming back to the Charlotte Hornets, there should be minutes available for Miller on the wing. If he’s a dedicated floor spacer alongside LaMelo Ball and shoots anything like he did in college (when he made 38.4 percent of his threes and 85.9 percent of his free throws), he could be a real weapon right away.”"
Miller produced mixed performances during Las Vegas Summer League and could take some time to adjust to his new surroundings in the NBA. Still, he will have a legitimate role within Charlotte’s rotation, with scope to extend that role as he improves throughout the season.
Regardless of whether Miller is crowned Rookie of the Year next summer, the Hornets will benefit from him trying to win the award because it will mean he’s playing at a high level and contributing in a multitude of ways on both sides of the floor.
Yes, Miller faces some serious competition, but that means he will be forced to raise his game quickly and prove why Mitch Kupchak and the front office felt so comfortable using a top draft pick to bring him into the organization.
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