Brandon Miller has had a productive rookie campaign with the Charlotte Hornets and head coach Steve Clifford believes the second pick has a bright future.
Miller is averaging 16.5 points, four rebounds and 2.3 assists on 37.4% shooting from 3-point range in 53 appearances this season. He is third in scoring among rookies and is one of six first-year players with multiple 30-point games (2).
The 21-year-old has scored in double figures in 16 consecutive games, the third-longest streak by a rookie this season. He looks to be improving and is finishing the season on a high note.
Clifford explained how he has improved this season.
(He is) more confident off the dribble, his pick-and-roll game. I think probably just understanding the NBA game, the rules. When we started the season, he was coming off the bench. Now, he has really been almost like our go-to guy. He had a stretch maybe like four or five weeks ago where he was really tight.
He has played major minutes, a lot more minutes than I think he should have, but we had no choice with the injuries and so he hit a wall maybe for like 7-10 days. When we made the trades, especially with Terry (Rozier), you can see he sensed that we needed more from him and he has responded.
Miller will likely finish third in the Rookie of the Year race, though he should be a unanimous choice for the All-Rookie first team. He has emerged as one of the top first-year players and is establishing himself as a franchise cornerstone for the Hornets.
He was inconsistent earlier in the season due to injuries, but he has settled in and is showcasing himself at a high level. He was highly touted as a versatile player on both ends of the court coming out of Alabama, and he has lived up to expectations.
“He’s an old-school guy,” Clifford said. “His dad played football at Alabama. He has size. He has instincts and is a terrific learner. You don’t see that as much anymore with these younger guys. You don’t have to show him stuff eight times before he does it. … (His teammates) all like having him on the floor and he has a chance to be terrific, obviously.”
Note: Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire contributed to this report
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