Months before the 2023 NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama has widely been projected as the first overall pick. And the speculations were all correct. The San Antonio Spurs chose Victor as the first pick. We can’t contain our excitement, how happy we are for the French draft. On the other hand, G-League sensation, Scoot Henderson was the projected second pick. But, as the drafts panned out, he was the third pick. The second draft pick was Brandon Miller, who went to the Charlotte Hornets.?
Miller truly defied a lot of odds to be the second pick. But, it’s not his first time defying the odds. He and his family have done it many times in the past.
As a freshman at Alabama, Brandon Miller unsurprisingly had to play with a chip on his shoulder. Meanwhile, his family was taunted by bigger worries as his mother, Angela Youlanda Miller, was fighting a fatal malady.
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Brandon Miller’s mother speaks about fighting a deadly condition
Prior to the much-awaited NBA draft, Brandon Miller had an unfiltered conversation with ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap. During the interview, Miller spoke about how he got in the middle of a gruesome gun controversy and how he eventually came clean. Besides, the interview also features footage of his parents speaking about him and his career.
Miller’s mother, Angela Youlanda Miller, also spoke about her experience of battling cancer.
As Angela puts it, doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer in January. The interviewer asked when did Brandom come to know about it.
“After the March Madness,” said Angela. The interviewer asked, “So you didn’t tell him for two months?”?“Didn’t tell him. Want him to stay focused. What he’s doing he had enough to worry about than have to think about his mom’s health is failing,” Angela added.
“It is just difficult knowing that you know she has breast cancer. But like I’ve said, the support system that we have in this house is, you can’t really beat it,”?said Brandon Miller.?“After the last surgery, proudly to say that I am now cancer-free,” Angela remarked.
Brandon Miller surely has inherited his mother’s trait to overcome tough times.
Brandon Miller and his odd-defying journey
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Before this year’s March Madness, Brandon Miller made the headlines for his involvement in a gun controversy. Without the knowledge of his peers’ intent to commit a crime, Miller gave his teammate Darius Miles and his friend Michael Davis a ride. From Miller’s car, the two opened fire on another car, fatally shooting the passenger Jamea Harris. Citing that he was unaware of the criminal intent, Miller came clean.
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While he was battling this serious controversy outside the hardwood, Alabama had kept him in their lineup. And, the freshman did not disappoint his college team as he put out back-to-back deciding displays. Shortly after the preliminary hearing, Miller’s Alabama locked horns with South Carolina. Amid the constant booing, the 20-year-old rendered a 41-point show!
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Brandon’s odd-defying mettle makes him a great fit in the Charlotte Hornets roster as they have a sea of odds to overcome.
What do you think about his performance? Will he thrive in the Hornets? Let us know in the comments below.