Brandon Miller (Alabama) poses with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected second by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Hornets draft SEC Player of the Year to pair with LaMelo Ball

By Tommy Fradenburg | Last updated 6/22/23

The Charlotte Hornets selected SEC Player of the Year Brandon Miller with the second overall pick in the NBA draft.

Miller is a 6-foot-9 forward out of Alabama whom the Hornets hope will become an elite scorer to pair with their star point guard LaMelo Ball.

"With Melo, as good of a PG as he is, I feel like I fall into place with him. He's going to be that big brother for me away from home," Miller told ESPN's Monica McNutt immediately after the selection.

.@brandmillerr ✈️ Buzz City

With the second overall pick, we have selected Brandon Miller. @CorcoranHM | https://t.co/N6sHm9TELJ pic.twitter.com/JdSiIazotL
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) June 23, 2023

Miller led the SEC in scoring with 18.8 points per game while pulling down 8.2 rebounds in his lone season in Tuscaloosa. He also knocked down nearly 86 percent of his free throws and more than 38 percent of his three point attempts, but comes to The Queen City with some baggage.

Earlier this year, police said Miller brought the gun that his former teammate, Darius Miles, allegedly used in the killing of Jamea Harris. Miller wasn't charged with a crime.

These issues might have contributed to the rumors reported that Scoot Henderson was "gaining serious momentum," to become the Hornets choice, as The Athletic's Shams Charania reported.

Ultimately, Charlotte prioritized offense over defense by selecting Miller after finishing with the fourth-lowest points per game in the entire NBA.

Miller is the only player selected in the top-five this season who played in the NCAA last season, with Victor Wembanyama playing in France and Henderson and brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson spending last season in the NBA's G League.

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