Putting an end to the hoops community’s long wait, the NBA held the 2023 draft last night at the Barclays Center, New York. As expected, the San Antonio Spurs drafted the red-hot prospect Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick. Meanwhile, the Alabama Crimson Tide‘s NCAA star, Brandon Miller, went to the Charlotte Hornets as the second pick, despite being the projected third pick. Amid the NBA milestone, Miller has now turned heads for a different reason as well.

Prior to this year’s NCAA tournament, Brandon Miller made the headlines for the wrong reasons. The 20-year-old was linked to a firearm controversy that had severe implications. Now, the second overall pick spoke his heart out about the unfortunate incident.

Brandon Miller opens up about his firearm controversy

On January 14, Brandon Miller single-handedly outsmarted the LSU Tigers at Tuscaloosa. However, the pleasure the triumph gave would not last long for Miller and his friends. After the game, Brandon Miller hung out with his teammates, Darius Miles and Jaden Bradley. Soon after Miller returned home, Miles texted him at midnight, asking him for a ride.

Miles texted him again, requesting him to bring Miles’ gun. When Miller returned to the area, Miles’ friend Michael Davis retrieved Miles’ gun from Miller’s car. Soon, Miles and Davis would exchange shots with a man named Cedric Johnson, who was riding in a different car.

During the gunfire exchange, Johnson’s girlfriend, Jamea Harris, got fatally shot. Moments before the draft, Miller addressed this gun incident with ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap. Schaap asked Miller what his thoughts were when he learnt that a person got killed during the gunfire.

“It was definitely not a good thing to hear…due to the fact that I was there at the scene. So, kinda put me in a place no one, no 20-year-old, wanna be,” said Brandon Miller.

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Throughout the legal battle though, Alabama had kept Miller in their roster. On the court, the 20-year-old appeared unfazed by the tumult, and he consistently came up with decent displays.

Brandon Miller comes clean after the infamous incident

Soon after the gruesome incident and the subsequent hearing, Brandon Miller’s teammate Darius Miles, and his friend Michael Davis, were both charged with capital murder. Brandon Miller’s attorney, however, pointed out that he was already returning to pick Miles up when the latter requested him to bring the gun. Besides, according to Miller’s defense, he was not aware of Darius’ intention to commit a crime. Apparently, the prosecutor told the media that Miller had not committed a crime and he cannot be charged.

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The day after the preliminary hearing, Miller played the South Carolina Gamecocks. When the air was filled with “Lock him up” chants, Miller netted 41 points for his side. From there until being the second overall pick, Miller has come a long way. Perhaps a player like Miller, who can battle the odds and win a game, is what the Charlotte Hornets have been looking for.