Charlotte Hornets star Brandon Miller exited Saturday night's game early against the Philadelphia 76ers. The 22-year-old guard was dealing with an apparent injury -- something the Hornets later confirmed. According to the team, Miller exited the contest with left shoulder soreness and is not expected to return.
Miller features a high ceiling. The former first round pick enjoyed a strong rookie season in 2023-24 and was a breakout candidate heading into the 2024-25 campaign. He ended up being limited to only 27 games played, though. Injuries unfortunately impacted him, but Miller still featured plenty of potential.
Brandon Miller has breakout potential
Once again, Miller was often mentioned as a potential breakout star this past offseason. He is already dealing with injury trouble in just the team's second regular season game, however. Charlotte is certainly hopeful that Miller will not have to miss a significant amount of time. The team will provide further updates on his status in the coming days.
Charlotte is 1-0 so far this season. They could remain undefeated depending on what happens during the remainder of Saturday night's matchup with the 76ers. In the first contest of the regular season, Miller went for 25 points while shooting 42.1 percent from the field. He added seven assists, a steal and a block.
It may have only been one game, but Miller reminded the NBA world of his ability to significantly impact the team. The Hornets' offense was nearly unstoppable, dropping 136 points against the Brooklyn Nets. The defense still had questions, as Brooklyn scored 117 points. Nevertheless, a win is a win.
Injuries have been a big problem for the Hornets amid their rebuild. The team could realistically take a step forward this season if injuries do not prove to be too much of an obstacle. LaMelo Ball has the talent of a top five guard in the NBA, but injuries have unfortunately impacted him on a consistent basis. The Brandon Miller-LaMelo Ball duo could be impressive if the star players can find a way to stay on the floor.
As for Saturday night's game, the Hornets currently lead the 76ers in the third quarter. Charlotte will attempt to hold on despite Brandon Miller's injury absence. Following Saturday's affair, the Hornets will travel to Washington to play the Wizards on Sunday in the second of a back-to-back. Sunday night's tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM EST.