Charlotte Hornets rising star Brandon Miller has landed a strong take from an NBA legend.
Heading into the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season, the Charlotte Hornets have become an intriguing team to watch in the Eastern Conference. Led by rising star Brandon Miller, the Hornets have become a sleeper playoff contender.
Miller's development will be a pivotal factor in whether or not Charlotte lives up to the hype.
Last season with the Hornets, the 23-year-old wing played in 65 games. He averaged 20.2 points per game to go along with 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and a steal, while shooting 43.5 percent from the floor and 38.3 percent from three-point range.
During his second NBA season in 2024-25, he averaged 21 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, while shooting 40.3 percent and 35.5 percent from the three-point line.
Ahead of his fourth season in the league, Miller has received strong words from an NBA legend. Tracy McGrady has spoken out and named him as the next player who can become a franchise star.
"I think B Miller can turn the corner. LaMelo is gone, right? Him having a bigger role this year, he should be a guy that averages 25-26 points, taking that next step," McGrady said.
"Depending on what I see from him this year is gonna determine, alright, he's gonna be the franchise. Because I think this year should be that year where we say, yeah, that's your franchise guy."
That kind of praise coming from a legend like McGrady carries some weight.
During the 2026 NBA offseason, the Hornets went through quite a bit of change. Two big trades were made sending LaMelo Ball out of town to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns.
It is clear that Charlotte has gone all-in on Miller being its franchise player. The front office has done its best to surround him with a lot of talent.
Kon Knueppel will be another key long-erm piece for the Hornets. He is fresh off of a strong rookie season that saw him average 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. He also shot 47.5 percent overall and 42.5 percent from three-point distance.
Only time will tell whether or not Charlotte can take the leap it's expected to take. Miller needs to take the next step himself.
At the end of the day, Miller has the talent to be a very special player. McGrady has taken notice, which has put further attention on the young Hornets star.
