LaMelo Ball's absence has allowed Brandon Miller to rise for Hornets
The Hornets selected Brandon Miller with the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Charlotte already had a young All-Star on its roster, the oft-injured LaMelo Ball, yet as the season has worn on, Miller is starting to show signs of being the franchise's cornerstone.
On Friday, Milled produced his fourth 30-point game of the season, helping the Hornets overcome the surging Orlando Magic. Following Charlotte's win, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley praised the exciting young rookie.
“He didn’t miss a shot the whole first half, so I’m very impressed with this young man and what he’s able to do," Mosley said. "I know there was a lot of talk early on of what he was capable of doing and he wasn’t hitting that to a point, and then he just turned it up. He’s turned it on for the last three months, I think he’s three months straight of Rookie of the Month... You have to give him a ton of credit for the work he’s put in and staying with it regardless of what was happening early on.”
Miller is already proving he can be a star in his position. He's a three-level scorer with the potential to develop a high-level passing game. Furthermore, he has all the physical attributes necessary for becoming a reliable defender at the NBA level.
There's no doubt that Miller's rapid growth is partly due to his additional touches in Ball's absence. The rookie forward has been able to play through his mistakes and generate some on-court swagger as he's grown his confidence.
Seeing how he gels with Ball once he returns to the rotation will be interesting. If both young stars can find a way to coexist, they could be genuine building blocks for Charlotte's long-term future.
Hornets fans have a reason to be optimistic. Millers' breakout performances have undoubtedly played a significant part.
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