‍Brandon Miller is not as hyped up as Victor Wembanyama, but he should be the rookie to watch

Miller, in Alabama, averaged 18.8 PPG, just over eight rebounds, and over two assists per game in 2022–23. Not exactly the biggest stat-padder as many would want, but to put the Tide on the national basketball stage as opposed to their dominance on the gridiron gives him the credibility to make it to the next level.

So how is Miller the rookie to watch? It’s very simple. Lower expectations. Wembanyama has so much riding on his shoulders. Miller is in Charlotte, a team that has only one major superstar in LaMelo Ball.

Ball and Miller are likely going to be the one-two punch in Charlotte, but the Hornets aren’t expected to make that big of a jump, which is why you need to see Miller. That doesn’t make sense to many, does it? Ok, but how often does anyone watch the Hornets compared to other teams like the Lakers, Celtics, Heat, Nuggets (yes, the defending champs), Warriors, etc.?

The Spurs will certainly get back on the national stage, and the Hornets won’t. But that’s why Miller is the guy to watch. He plays fast, he’s aggressive, and he’s not afraid to drive the basketball.

That works even in this modern era of sharpshooters and long-range shots that flood the Twitterverse. Moreover, when the two rookies faced off in the Summer League, Miller had 16 points and 11 rebounds, with three steals, against the Spurs. That works.

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