Brandon Miller is a legitimate two-way presence with real scoring ability and underrated playmaking feel. His trajectory is trending upward, and staying healthy should only accelerate that growth. But even with all the promise, one flaw continues to hold him back: his tendency to lean too heavily on the three-point shot.
The Charlotte Hornets star's season has already taken a few dramatic turns. He opened the year with a smooth 25-point outing in a thrilling win over the Brooklyn Nets, only to suffer a left shoulder subluxation that sidelined him for nearly a month. When he finally returned in late November with an enormous shoulder wrap, there were understandable questions about how quickly he’d find his rhythm again.
Fast forward to New Year’s Eve, and he’s torching the Golden State Warriors for a season-high 33 points, reminding everyone why he’s viewed as a future cornerstone.
The league's three-point obsession
The NBA has never been more fascinated with the three-pointer. Teams are prioritizing spacing on offense to get open looks and living with the math that rewards volume from deep. While I do believe three-pointers are a necessity for a championship formula, they have really hindered Miller's development. He is attempting 8.1 three-pointers a contest this season, third behind Knueppel (8.5) and Ball (9.0) on the squad. Charlotte, as a team, ranks 4th in the league in three-pointers attempted per game (41.1) and 10th in three-point percentage (36.5 percent).
It’s definitely a part of their identity on offense, but there's simply no justification for Miller firing away from deep at this volume. His game is more nuanced than that. Miller’s scoring inside the arc can feel effortless at times. Not only does he have a tough mid-range jumper, but he also has the capability to unleash earth-shattering dunks.
He’s converting just 32 percent of his three‑point attempts, well below league average. The inefficiency bleeds into the rest of his scoring profile. His true shooting percentage has dipped to 52 percent on the season, a clear sign that the shot diet is not doing him any favors.
Miller’s development hinges on getting back to why he was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2023 NBA draft. At Alabama, he showcased the ability to hit a jumper from anywhere on the floor. Now, it feels like he’s been relegated to the outside of the arc, capping his upside.
To me, this is a Charles Lee issue, although many teams in the league suffer from this "live and die by the 3" mindset. The hope is that Miller recognizes this deficiency and continues on his path to becoming the All-Star-level, multi-faceted scorer the Hornets desperately need him to be.