As the Charlotte Hornets struggle to keep the Philadelphia 76ers at bay, they have been dealt with another blow! It was the first time this season they had their starting five on the floor together. But it just wasn’t meant to be. Brandon Miller was forced to leave Monday’s game in the fourth quarter after suffering a sprained left ankle. The team quickly announced he wouldn’t be returning.

This injury setback occurred when Brandon Miller made a driving layup to trim Philly’s lead to 97-91 with 8:20 left. In the process, Miller seemed to have landed awkwardly on his ankle before hobbling off the court and heading straight to the locker room.

Miller had been solid, putting up 12 points in 31 minutes, but this injury is a tough blow. Notably, even when the 76ers faced the Hornets the last time, in the second half, Miller was absolutely on fire, making plays that would’ve made Paul George proud, as he looks up to him! He led the Hornets in a fierce comeback, but despite his incredible performance, it wasn’t enough to pull off the win.

As the game wore on, Nick Nurse began throwing double and triple teams at Miller, trying to cool him down before he could go full takeover mode. It wasn’t until late in the game that Nurse’s strategy finally worked, managing to shut Brandon down in crunch time. Still, Miller’s 34-point outburst wasn’t just a one-off — other teams have struggled to handle the sophomore’s explosiveness. Without him, the Hornets have lost again…

Brandon Miller’s gradual improvement has been phenomenal!

Brandon Miller might not be grabbing the biggest headlines this season, but don’t sleep on his growth. Last year, he finished as one of the top three in the Rookie of the Year race, but this time around, LaMelo Ball and the Hornets’ struggles often overshadow him.

He’s playing with more confidence and poise this year, though. His pace is better, and he’s taking more threes—about four more per game. What’s even better to hear is his 37% shooting from beyond the arc is almost on par with last season. Since LaMelo’s calf injury, Brandon Miller has been more aggressive, confidently taking quick-trigger shots when left open.

One noticeable improvement is his playmaking. Miller’s assist rate has jumped to 18%, up from 11% last season. The Hornets have used him creatively as a ghost screener, enhancing his playmaking ability.

That said, there’s room for improvement. It would be beneficial for Miller to attack the rim more often and get to the free-throw line. His lack of paint touches and inefficiency, when he does attack, hurts his true shooting percentage, despite his solid shooting from deep. While he’s not an all-star yet, Miller is shaping up to be a valuable contributor to a championship contender in the future!