Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller? It’s early, but draft debate looks silly in hindsight
When Brandon Miller took a peek at the incoming number programmed into his phone, noticing the unexpected caller’s name pop up, he was temporarily taken aback.
Steve Clifford’s name typically doesn’t appear on the log of the Charlotte Hornets rookie.
“I had a lot of phone calls,” Miller said. “I think the one that stood out was Coach Cliff. I’m like, ‘Man, Coach Cliff never calls me.’ So, I answered and he just said, ‘Congratulations.’ Then I just happened to look at social media and there was a nice picture of me smiling with the dimples out. It looked real nice.
“But it’s just a great moment, a great moment. So I’m ready to have some fun.”
Miller, who posted 28 points and four rebounds in the Hornets’ 126-106 loss to Oklahoma City at Paycom Center on Friday night, was referring to his selection to the rookie team for the NBA’s Rising Stars challenge, which will take place during All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis Feb. 16-18.
But that same conversation easily could’ve applied to his latest accolade: being named the Eastern Conference rookie of the month for January, becoming the first member of the Hornets to grab the honor since LaMelo Ball took the award home in March 2021.
Months after the debate raged regarding whether the Hornets should draft Miller or Scoot Henderson at No. 2 overall in the NBA Draft, there’s no denying at the moment who’s the better pick. Charlotte fell in love with Miller’s skill set and thought the 6-foot-8, 205-pounder would be a perfect fit. He’s proving them right, turning in an effective first season and blossoming into an effective two-way player.
Because of the Hornets’ spate of injuries, his role has fluctuated all season. Yet he’s still excelled. He’s chiseled his way into their foundation already, currently boasting the team’s third-highest scoring average at 15.3 points per game.
As the Hornets’ numbers dwindle thanks to Ball’s sore ankle — he sat out his fourth straight game Friday — and Terry Rozier’s departure to Miami, more of the onus is being put on Miller. And he’s handling the extra burden appropriately enough to grab his first piece of pro hardware with the rookie of the month award.
“Obviously, well-deserving,” Clifford said. “I think the bigger thing is, his teammates will tell you, he’s exhausted. He’s played too many minutes, far too many than we planned on. He’s played great with great consistency, but he’s sucking it up right now. He’s showing a ton of mental toughness, of team-first intangibles for the group and he’s playing great. So we need that. But what he’s doing is not easy to do.”
While San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, the top overall selection last June, has received the bulk of the notoriety and the national television appearances to go along with it, Miller has toiled in relative obscurity because of the Hornets’ struggles. Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, who posted 16 points and six rebounds in the Thunder’s win over the Hornets, and even Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. have received many more congratulatory pats on the back.
In January, Holmgren amassed five of his top six scoring efforts this season, and averaged 16 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 13 starts. He joined Wembanyama and Holmgren as the only rookies this season to average at least 20 points over a five-game span.
“It’s been a great experience, minus all the losing,” said Miller, who picked up his first career technical foul at the end of the first half against Oklahoma City. “I feel like we’ve just got to turn it around some way, just come in with all the energy and just pull out as many wins as we can.
“I think we’ve had some slow starts to some games. So I think that has to definitely change. Come out and be aggressive, be aggressive instead of letting teams hit us first in the mouth. So I think going out and playing aggressive but smart, I think we will pull out wins like that.”
In a nutshell, that’s Miller. He’s quick to deflect individual accolades, always somehow bringing it back to the team aspect. But he’s incrementally becoming more of a focal point for the opposition.
Without Ball on the floor in particular, Miller doesn’t have much room to roam. Finding wide-open looks isn’t as easy and he’s often drawing one of the opponent’s best defenders, showing the type of respect he’s rapidly earned through these last four months.
“They are for sure now, and they double team him a lot, too,” Clifford said. “For sure, he’s getting a lot of attention and he’s responding. He’s playing well consistently.”
And finally earning recognition, leading into his Rising Stars appearance in just under two weeks.
“It’s definitely a great accomplishment,” Miller said. “I think I’m just going to go out there and put on for the team, have as much fun as I can.”
Which, of course, will be easier if one thing happens.
“I want to be on Wemby’s team,” Miller said, “just throwing lobs the whole time.”
This story was originally published February 2, 2024 at 12:00 AM.
