Brandon Miller is following the same path as his GOAT
The Charlotte Hornets’ first pick in the 2023 NBA draft, Brandon Miller, made headlines even before he was drafted by none other than the usual suspects as the greatest of all time. Most people obviously gravitate toward Michael Jordan or the youth crowd LeBron James, but Miller picked Paul George for that exclusivity — which he later clarified was just his personal goat.
Turns out, Miller is actually already on the same path as his favorite player and another notable young NBA star in the form of Jayson Tatum. This one might be a little hard to believe based on Miller’s Summer League performance, but that’s actually the reason.
Brandon Miller’s summer league clash
Miller finished his Summer League with averages of 15.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, one steal and one block per game. He was used in several high-volume situations to learn how to use his various skill sets once the regular season began.
Versatility is always a good thing in the NBA. When you compare those same stats to George Summers’ league stats in 2010, they are nearly identical. George averaged 15.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.4 steals per contest. Miller was also noted by many critics for turning the ball at a high rate as he averaged 2.6. George averaged just under five in Summer League, averaging 4.8.
high hopes from miller
Obviously, George became one of the best two-way players in today’s game. He is an eight-time All-Star, a six-time All-NBA performer, and even a top 3 finisher in MVP voting in the 2018-19 season. Jayson Tatum was another comparison often used when scouts were trying to find a similar fit to Miller’s game coming from Alabama. Tatum had the best performance in the Summer League, averaging 18.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game. he developed into a number one option Championship-Caliber Team with the Boston Celtics.
There’s no telling whether Brandon Miller will reach the heights of either of these two-way stars. Really, it puts a lot of pressure on a kid who hasn’t played a minute in an NBA regular season. Still, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. He was the second choice in a loaded draft class. With LaMelo Ball, Miller can move into a young, fun system. What is certain is that you will get out in the open field and run a fast pace and space-style offense.
