For much of the season, I had Jaime Jaquez Jr third on my Rookie of the Year list, and felt comfortable with it. (Not that such a list matters much anymore, given the sheer dominance of Victor Wembanyama.)
But I've recently had to make a change. A change I initially felt uncomfortable with, as I didn't know if I was just buying into a hot streak.
Now, though, I've come around. I trust Brandon Miller's production, and his approach to the game, to be at a point where I can see it continue with no fuss.
Miller, a fluid 6-foot-9 wing who can score in bunches, handle the rock, and initiate the offense, looks every bit the player the Hornets were hoping for when they reached for him at #2, forgoing Scoot Henderson, much to the frustration of every basketball writer in the planet - including this one.
Forget the season numbers. They don't represent where Miller currently is. After a somewhat timid start to the season, where he looked afraid to step on his teammates' toes, Miller has embraced his status as one of the best players on the team.
Over his last 16 games, Miller is netting 22 points per game, connecting on almost 49% of his shots from the field, and cashing in 40% of his triples, and 88% of his free throws.
This isn't a fluke. While it's fair to question whether such efficiency can be duplicated over a full season, Miller has shown the capability of maintaining high levels of efficiency for a long period of time, while also putting substantial volume behind it.
Sure, we can sit here and nitpick about his modest rebounding, and the fact that he doesn't get to the line a ton, but those are not "today" issues. Those are meant to be solved later on. For now, the Hornets know they have a keeper. A guy who could potentially overtake LaMelo Ball as the most crucial player in that organization moving forward. (Yes, I said it.)
Miller has not just the necessary size to become a full-time matchup nightmare, he's also got the finesse, touch, and feel for the game that allows him to process information quickly and effectively, presenting him with an arsenal of options, of which he already seems fairly potent.
That bodes very well for the future.
The time will come for Miller to round out his game, but for now, he's exploring the limits of his offense, and proving to be exceptionally gifted on that end of the floor. That's not only a tremendous start, but a huge necessity for a team in constant need of real quality.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
More must-reads: