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3 ways Hornets’ rookie Brandon Miller is already exceeeding expectations

By James Mastrucci

Oct 27, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) during pre-game warm ups against the Detroit Pistons at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) during pre-game warm ups against the Detroit Pistons at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 30: Brandon Miller #24 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles the ball during the first half of an NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets at Spectrum Center on October 30, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) /

The volume of minutes played by Brandon Miller

It is not just the performance of Brandon Miller so far that has been encouraging, it is how frequently he has been on the court while doing so. Miller’s 29.5 minutes per game ranks second among all rookies and is barely behind Detroit’s Ausar Thompson’s 29.6 minutes.

Taking the production level and where those numbers fall while putting it into the context of how much time he is on the floor per game, it indicates a pretty impressive start for the most recent second-overall draft selection.

Miller is just one of three players who average 20+ minutes per game and are scoring 15 points or more per contest. Of the other seven players who are seeing this much time on the court, only one is scoring in double-digits, while the rest are single-digit point scorers. This includes the 8.8 points on 34.6% from the field and 9.5% from deep from Portland’s Scoot Henderson.

Now, is it wise to put too much stock into a handful of games to start the season? Absolutely not. However, Charlotte getting this much production from Miller early on could accomplish two things. Firstly, it makes the organization feel much more confident about their draft selection. Secondly, this could lead to an earlier trade of Gordon Hayward and his expiring contract. This would allow Miller to slide into the starting lineup and give the Hornets what should hopefully be a positive glimpse of their future.

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