Brandon Miller, the No. 2 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, received a lucrative contract extension from the Charlotte Hornets heading into his fourth season in the league.
Miller, coming off a career year with the Hornets, agreed to a five-year, $209 million extension, per The Associated Press.
The 23-year-old averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game last year, while also dealing with a shoulder injury. The guard/forward has tallied 19 points and 4.6 rebounds per game across his three seasons.
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With LaMelo Ball traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of this year, Miller should be expected to take on a larger role for Charlotte during the 2026-27 campaign.
Miller was taken after the San Antonio Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama in the 2023 Draft, but there was a time during his final season at Alabama where Miller’s draft stock was in limbo because of controversy off the court.
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Miller was involved in the death of a 23-year-old woman in January 2023, where it was found he transported the murder weapon, a firearm, to former teammate Darius Miles, the legal owner of the gun. Miles then gave the gun to Michael Lynn Davis, who was found guilty of shooting and killing Jamea Harris near The Strip in Tuscaloosa.
While Miller was never accused of any wrongdoing, he drove the gun to the scene where it was taken out of the vehicle by Miles and Davis. Prosecutors presented text messages showing that Miles had asked Miller to bring the gun to the scene.
Miller testified in the capital murder trial last year, admitting he did indeed bring the gun in his Dodge Charger to the scene, but said Miles didn’t tell him why he needed it, that he was going to give it to Davis or that a shooting would occur.
Miller also testified that, when gunfire rang out shortly after, two bullets had struck his windshield. He said he was almost hit by the bullets.
Ultimately, Miller was never charged with a crime or offered any special promises or rewards in exchange for cooperating.
Miller was one of four former members of the Alabama men’s basketball program who appeared on the pretrial potential witness list in the case. Davis was someone he knew since he joined the Crimson Tide’s program, being introduced to him through Miles. Davis had hung around the basketball team, which included moments in the locker room with Miles.
Miller was with the Crimson Tide for one season during the 2022-23 campaign before being selected by the Hornets. As news came out about his connection to the shooting, Miller started to face backlash from opposing teams’ fans, with “lock him up” ringing out during a game at South Carolina. He wasn’t fazed, though, dropping 41 points, as well as the game-winner in overtime, in that game.
“We hear the chants,” Miller said at the time. “I feel like we really just lean on each other to go to places like that and pull out tough wins.”
With Miller cleared of any wrongdoing, his draft stock remained on a top-three path, and the Hornets selected him in hopes that his prowess on the court in college would translate to the NBA.
It certainly has, and Miller has what every professional hopes for after entering the league: a big-time pay day.
