Back on draft night in 2023, there were many who thought Charlotte had made a grave mistake by choosing Brandon Miller over Scoot Henderson. Three years later, games like Saturday's convincing win over the Portland Trail Blazers feels like a quiet rebuttal. Miller didn’t just help secure a win, he neutralized every last critic.
The Hornets’ fourth straight win on Saturday, February 28th came with a little extra satisfaction, and Miller made sure of it. He poured in 26 points on 9‑of‑19 shooting, once again leading Charlotte in scoring and setting the tone in crucial moments. Across from him, Henderson struggled to find buckets, finishing just 3‑for‑12 with 8 points. In hindsight, Miller is obviously the better pick, but why was it controversial?
Revisiting draft night
The Hornets didn’t win the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes in 2023, but they still walked away with the draft’s second‑most powerful asset: the No. 2 pick. That’s where the real drama began. San Antonio’s choice was a formality. Charlotte’s choice was the moment the draft truly started. The question came down to Brandon Miller or Scoot Henderson.
Henderson was arguably the best player available, and there were plenty of reasons to like him. Who wouldn't enjoy an explosive guard who was comped to Ja Morant/Russell Westbrook? He had the downhill force to warp a defense anytime he stepped on the floor. He also didn't have off-the-court issues like Miller. And yet, the rookie seasons between the two tell a completely different story.
Numbers don't lie
Miller had the far superior rookie season compared to Henderson. Here are their numbers for the 2023-24 season:
Miller: 17.3 PPG (44.0 FG%), 4.3 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.6 BPG, 0.9 SPG
Henderson: 14.0 PPG (38.5 FG%), 3.1 RPG, 5.4 APG, 0.2 BPG, 0.8 SPG
The difference is clear in plain sight. In every category but assists, Miller trumps Henderson by a good amount. It would be unfair to compare their numbers this season, as Henderson is coming off a left torn hamstring injury. Still, based on Henderson's 27.9 3P% this season, he would not fit the offensive identity of the current Hornets who've been shooting lights out beyond the arc (48.3% in their last three games).
Luckily for Charlotte, the front office trusted its evaluation and took Miller with the second overall pick. Yes, he hasn't lived up to superstar expectations that some evaluators expected, and yes, there are still layers of his game that need refining. But at this point, it's painfully clear that Miller is the better player and is a foundational piece in this team's success.