Brandon Miller tossed in a career-best 39 points, hit the game-clinching bucket, and left his imprints all over the Charlotte Hornets’ 110-103 victory against the Washington Wizards on Monday night. It was an absolute statement game from the fourth-year swingman, showing exactly why he is becoming the new face of the franchise. The Hornets are now sitting pretty at 3-1, with this being their third win in just four games to kick off the season.
The $209 Million Man Delivers
Miller didn’t just light up the scoreboard; he was a force on both ends of the court, stuffing the stat sheet with two steals and two blocked shots. One of those blocks was a straight-up highlight reel, a chase-down rejection on Bub Carrington’s layup that showed off his hustle. This kind of two-way ability is exactly what the Hornets are banking on, especially with key players like Coby White, Kon Knueppel, and Grant Williams currently out with injuries. It’s why they didn’t hesitate to give Miller a hefty five-year, $209 million rookie-scale contract extension back on October 21. That signature is fully dry, and he’s proving he’s worth every single penny. With LaMelo Ball now in Minnesota and Miles Bridges heading to Phoenix, Miller steps into a massive role as the Hornets’ longest-tenured player. The bull’s-eye is on him, and based on Monday night, he is absolutely not shying away from it.
Unwavering Trust, Historic Marks
It’s clear that the trust in Miller extends beyond the front office. His teammates are all in, too. Guys like Knueppel, White, Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, and Moussa Diabate have been hyping him up, giving him that belief. Coach Charles Lee summed it up perfectly, saying his teammates tell him, “‘You are that guy, we believe in you.’… ‘So when we put the ball in your hand, go make a play. For yourself, for your teammates.’” Diabate echoed that, straight up, “We all trust him with the ball. That’s the whole reason why he got paid. At the end of the day, there’s no second thoughts for who’s getting the ball.” Miller doesn’t take that for granted either, noting that it makes him “smile every day” to see that trust. He knows it’s a two-way street, saying he has to “go to war for those guys every night, too, and vice versa.” And if that wasn’t enough to cement his status, Miller also reached 500 made career 3-pointers in the second-fewest games in NBA history. Off the court, he showed his class, purchasing 500 tickets for breast cancer survivors to attend the game. The guy is making winning plays in every single way.
Monday night wasn’t just about the points; it was a declaration. With that five-year, $209 million deal fully inked, and the team sitting at 3-1 early in the season, Miller is not just the Hornets’ longest-tenured player. He’s the guy, and clearly, he’s ready for the fight.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply