“We’re playing the defending champs, so it’s great to be able to come out and play them,” said Hornets guard LaMelo Ball. “We’ll be able to test ourselves and see where we are as a team.”
After a promising rookie campaign that saw Miller average 17.3 points, 4.3 and 2.4 assists per game, there was no sophomore slump for former Crimson Tide star.
Miller improved in every statistical category, averaging 21 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists through the first three months of last season. Just when it seemed that Miller’s career trajectory was going to go up another notch, he hurt his wrist, and his season came to an abrupt end.
Charlotte Hornets coach Charles Lee speaks with media members at a practice inside McAlister Field House, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Charleston.
Henry Taylor/Staff
“Sitting out all that time last year, missing all of those games,” Miller said. “Not being able to go out there and work with your teammates, your brothers, the people you see every day, you get down sometimes. My teammates were there to pick you back up.”
Miller believes that the time away from the game might have turn into a blessing in disguise this year. He spent his time watching film and trying to help himself and his teammates get better.
“I watched a lot of video and learned a lot from doing that,” Miller said. “I’ve been trying to translate the stuff I learned to the court.”
Miller’s teammates were especially happy to have him back on the floor.
“It’s like having a 6-10 guard out there,” Ball said. “Anytime you have a guy out there like that, it’s amazing. He can do it all.”
Even Hornets’ coach Charles Lee has noticed a difference in Miller’s approach this preseason, taking on more of a vocal leadership role.
“I saw a little more of the alpha come out of Brandon,” Lee said. “There were moments during practice when his group was either up or down in a pivotal moment and instead of taking a back seat, I thought he rallied the troops and told them what we needed.
“He wanted the ball in his hands and to guard the best players. There’s a lot of situations during a normal season when you need your best players to step up, and I thought he did that several times.”