Is Brandon Miller playing tonight vs. Celtics? Latest update on sophomore guard
Charlotte Hornets’ Brandon Miller has been the clear star of his team in the ongoing NBA Summer League. The Hornets have won both of their matches in this year's Las Vegas Summer League and won their three games in the California Classic Summer League.
Miller enjoyed a highly successful first season in the NBA with the Hornets but was a surprise inclusion in the Summer League roster. He has produced multiple huge performances already, including a 23-point display against the New York Knicks — he also had eight rebounds and two assists.
Miller did not play against the Denver Nuggets, however. It was not down to an injury; he was removed from the roster at the behest of coach Charles Lee. This was instead of giving some other players game time against the Nuggets, and Miller is set to return against the defending champions.
Regardless, Miller is expected to suit up against the Boston Celtics tonight (July 17), considering his absence was not injury-related. His performances thus far have only increased the hype surrounding his second season in the NBA, as the Hornets look for their third straight win of the tournament.
Brandon Miller looks more than ready for sophomore season with Charlotte Hornets
Miller averaged 17.3 points, 2.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds in the 2023-24 campaign. He had an overall 52.4 percent efficiency and was not one of the players who looked set to join the Summer League roster for the Hornets. The second overall pick of the 2023 draft, Lee was added to be ready for the new season, as coach Charles Lee explained:
"I'm very excited that Brandon, when we sat down and talked to him about the opportunity to play in Summer League, it was exactly that. It was an opportunity for him to just continue to get more reps. And as he continues to grow in this league, he's one of our better players on this young core.”
The coach expected him to be the leader of the summer league team, and he has done that, helping the Hornets to five wins thus far:
“The team is gonna follow his lead. It was really important for him to come out here and play, work hard and practice, and do everything that it takes to build the appropriate foundation that we need in Charlotte."
Needless to say, Miller will be itching to prove his talent against the Celtics as well. He can once again be expected to be the major threat for the Hornets.