Hornets’ Brandon Miller on giving back, his right wrist, ‘big bro’ Muggsy Bogues

Charlotte Hornets legend Muggsy Bogues thinks the city has a future NBA superstar in forward Brandon Miller, a former No. 2 overall pick who is heading into his third NBA season.

“I see something special in Brandon,” Bogues said. “He just has a great soul. A kid that worked extremely hard to get to where he is, and now he’s come to a city where I’ve been for quite some time, and anything I can do to smooth his transition and help him along, you know, I’m all in.”

Bogues, 60, was working Miller’s basketball camp on Friday at Queens University near uptown Charlotte. Bogues met Miller during a media day after the Hornets drafted the 6-foot-9 forward out of Alabama in 2023. Bogues’ wife, Kim, quickly became friends with Miller’s mother, Yolanda, and the former Hornets star and current Hornets star developed a fast friendship.

“That’s my big, big, bro,” Miller said. “Just having Muggsy around, teaching me about what he used to do back in the day, with his routine, how he used to get over things. Having him to mentor me, I think that’s just a blessing.”

Bogues said he really enjoys the relationship the two have built.

“I’m just so fond of him,” Bogues said. “His family is really unbelievable. He’s got a sister named Britany. I’ve got a daughter named Brittney. I’m just I’m just honored to be in his presence, really, because I know what it takes as a professional on and off the court to be the best version of yourself and that’s what he’s striving to be.”

Bogues worked a camp Miller ran in Nashville earlier this summer, and when Miller decided to bring a version of it to Charlotte, he asked Bogues to assist again. Miller’s parents — Darrell and Yolanda — were also at Queens over the weekend along with a gym full of young campers. Proceeds benefitted Miller’s Team Miller Foundation, which seeks to help underserved communities address food insecurity and healthcare concerns plus provide educational opportunities.

“Brandon always wanted to do something in the community,” Yolanda Miller said, “and make sure that kids not only get the skills and drills ... but also those life lessons they need in order to go further than just the basketball court.”

Yolanda Miller also thinks her son is ready for a big season.

She was at the Utah Jazz game in January when he tore a ligament in his wrist that required season-ending surgery and shut down a promising season where the 22-year-old was averaging 21 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Hornets.

“I don’t remember him getting hurt,” Yolanda Miller said. “Because he kept playing. And then, later, he was like, ‘My wrist hurts.’ ... It was heartbreaking. I think we all kind of cried because he was really upset. He does not like to sit out. He does not like to lose.”

And Yolanda Miller thinks her son is ready for a big season in his third year in Charlotte.

“He’s going to be a beast,” she said. “I saw him working out in Nashville for the first time since the injury, and I was like, ‘Woo, wee!’ They better get out of the way! He’s coming down.”

Brandon Miller 1-on-1

Miller sat down for an exclusive interview with The Observer on Friday morning. His answers have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

Q. You’ve held a youth camp in Nashville, where you grew up. What made you decide to bring it to Charlotte?

BM: Being inspired by my previous camp in Nashville, seeing the kids and the smiles on their faces, you know, the joy that we bring to the game of basketball. I think just being here having fun with the kids, I think that’s our main goal and teaching them life goals, life skills to help better them as a person.

Q. Do you remember attending camps like this as a kid?

BM: I went to stuff similar to this. I don’t remember any NBA players present at the time. But, you know, just having an NBA player or somebody of my caliber in their space, I think that can help them in a lot of ways.

Q. Is it weird to go from being a camper at an event like this to be the guy running the camp so quickly?

BM: (Laughs). Of course. Just having my own camp with my name is exciting thing and, of course, having kids show up to the camp.

Q. How is your wrist?

BM: It’s probably around 90-95% now. I started contact (drills). I’ll be ready the first day the season starts and I’m just excited to get back out on the court with my guys.

Q. How long ago were you really able to ramp up?

BM: Recently. When I started shooting and it doesn’t hurt? Yeah, recently. It’s all part of the process. Not everything’s going to be a smooth route. You’re going to have ups and downs, a lot of bumps and curves.

Q. How hard was it to sit out last season?

BM: Definitely hard. Playing 25 games, that was the hardest thing of my career right there. Just watching basketball the whole season. My goal is always to play every game and play 110% in every game.

Q. I’m sure you hear about how you and LaMelo Ball haven’t been able to play much together in the past two seasons. How focused are guys in staying heathy this season?

BM: Of course. It’s always the main thing, you know, just keeping our bodies together. We know it’s a long season. Having us two on the floor can make the big difference (in having) a winning team.

Q. Were you in Las Vegas for NBA Summer League when Charlotte won the championship?

BM: I was in Vegas (in July) from 9th through the 14th, so I didn’t get to go to the championship game. But I watched it. It was it was a great game. I feel like the rookies did a great job, just contributing. I feel like our two-year players did a great job of helping the rookies to go out there and work hard, play as hard as they can and just contribute to what this Hornets program has been building.

Q. What do you think first-round draft picks Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley will add to the team?

BM: They are going to bring space, a lot of space, with their shooting ability. I feel like that’s going to help us in the long run. Their confidence is going to be the biggest thing, you know, coming into this league, just building their confidence early.

Q. If I told you the Hornets haven’t won 50 games in a season since 1997-98, before you were born, what’s your reaction?

BM: No reaction.

Q: Is that going to change?

BM: I guess we will see.

Q. Did you see Paul George’s latest comments about Charlotte?

(In a recent interview George said he would not consider signing with Charlotte as a free agent because the team doesn’t have a winning culture. Miller has long said that George is his favorite player).

BM: I don’t pay attention to all that (drops head and smiles). I don’t pay attention to it. Don’t tell me. I play against him, that’s all.

This story was originally published July 28, 2025 at 6:00 AM.