Charlotte Hornets’ Brandon Miller Faces Shooting Struggles Amid Expectations

Brandon Miller, playing for the Charlotte Hornets, has shown resilience despite facing a shooting slump in recent games. During the Hornets’ 128-114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miller contributed 15 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals over 35 minutes of play. However, his shooting accuracy was a concern; he made only six of 20 attempts from the field and three of 12 from beyond the three-point arc.

Miller’s current shooting troubles are part of a trend observed over his last three games, where his field-goal percentage has dropped to 25.5%, and his three-point success rate to 20.5%. Despite these figures, Miller is averaging 12.0 points, 4.7 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 2.3 three-pointers per game during this period. According to team insiders, the Hornets appear to have adopted a supportive approach, allowing Miller to continue his attempts in hopes of breaking out of this shooting slump.

At the start of the 2024-25 season, hopes were high for both LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller to potentially secure spots in the All-Star Game. Ball, recalling his past All-Star appearance, has shown that maintaining health might be his key to another selection. In contrast, Miller, after a strong rookie season, has been struggling to replicate that form in his sophomore year.

In the current season, Miller’s shooting accuracy has declined, hitting just 35.3% from the field and 30.6% from three-point range, despite previously posting 44.0% from the field and 37.3% from beyond the arc in his rookie year. These statistics have colored his season narrative, raising questions about his All-Star Game prospects.

Despite the scoring inefficiencies, Miller averages 15.3 points per game and has maintained a bright spot with 3.8 assists per match. Challenges notwithstanding, Miller’s involvement in the league’s Rising Stars Challenge could present an alternate path to his participation in All-Star festivities, especially with rumblings about the NBA considering a new tournament-style All-Star format. According to league insiders, discussions are underway to introduce this format, which might allow Rising Star participants to join All-Star events.