Brandon Miller Reveals the Key to His Big Second Half in Debut
The Charlotte Hornets took down the Hawks on Wednesday evening in the team's season opener at Spectrum Center. The win marked the third season in a row Charlotte has won the first contest of their season.
The game was also the career debut for 2023 second-overall draft pick Brandon Miller. Subbing in mid-first quarter for LaMelo Ball, Miller knocked down a three-pointer on his first career shot attempt.
Miller finished with 13 points on five-for-nine shooting. However, most of his scoring came later in the contest when the Hornets were going back and forth with the Hawks. His timely shot-making helped Charlotte emerge with the win.
When asked about what helped him overcome some early foul trouble to be a factor in the closing minutes, Brandon Miller explained that his confidence comes from the veteran leaders on his roster.
"The older guys building my confidence as much as they can, that goes a long way in 82 games," said Miller. He emphasized the importance of him learning as much as he can from the more established players around him.
It has been Miller's confidence and trust in his teammates that has helped him ward off the would-be rookie anxiety to start the season. By and large, Miller has looked very composed to begin his tenure in Charlotte.
That composure has led to him embracing the moment and enjoying his time on the court. "I had a lot of fun," said Miller of his second-half performance on Wednesday. "I think the crowd loved it. Just enjoying the moments with my teammates, and getting a win is the best part."
Even the struggle of going against NBA defenses has not done a lot to faze Brandon Miller to this point. "It's just about making the correct reads, making the right plays, and going out there and playing as hard as you can," said Miller.
He acknowledged the challenge of playing against teams comprised of good defenders that are always in the right places. Even so, Miller has seemed to handle that test rather well so far.
