Jeff Peterson said Brandon Miller is expected to participate in Hornets training camp less than five months after undergoing left shoulder surgery.
Charlotte Hornets president of basketball operations and general manager Jeff Peterson said Monday that he expects Brandon Miller to take part in training camp, less than five months after Miller had surgery on his left shoulder.
Hunter Bailey posted Peterson's comments to X on Monday morning. NBA training camps open Tuesday.
When Miller had the procedure May 6, the Hornets ruled him out indefinitely and did not attach a timeline to his return.
"Brandon's been amazing," Peterson said. "He's worked his butt off in the weight room, on the court — love the progress that he's making. Expect him to participate in training camp and be ready to roll."
"Brandon's been amazing this summer," Peterson said. "He's worked his butt off in the weight room, on the court — love the progress that he's making. Expect him to participate at training camp and be ready to roll."
"Right now he's expected to be a full participant," Peterson continued. "We will continue to monitor him throughout camp, but really excited for him. Of course he missed the previous summer as well, but proud that he hasn't let this deter him. He's put in a ton of work, so excited to see him go."
Miller Progresses From Shoulder Surgery
The surgery addressed shoulder instability. Miller hurt it Oct. 25 in a 125-121 loss at Philadelphia, and the left shoulder subluxation kept him out of 13 straight games. After returning in late November, he wore a wrap on the shoulder for the rest of the season.
In late August, Miller still had not been cleared for full basketball activities.
Through 65 starts last season, Miller averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 30.3 minutes. He shot 43.5% from the field, 38.3% from 3-point range, and 89.2% from the free-throw line. His scoring average led the Hornets.
Charlotte went 41-24 in the games Miller played and 3-14 in the games he missed. The Hornets finished 44-38, beat the Miami Heat at home in the 9-10 play-in game, and lost at Orlando in the 8-9 game on April 17.
Hornets Also Face Brandon Miller Extension Decision
In July, Peterson confirmed the team had opened extension talks with Miller's camp. At the same time, he said Miller was expected to make a full recovery.
"I've been very, very pleased with the way he's attacking his rehab," Peterson explained. "He's in the gym constantly. He knows he has to continue to work on his body and get stronger and he's taken that to heart."
Miller will make $15,104,626 this season, the final year of his rookie-scale contract. The deadline for a rookie-scale extension is Oct. 19. Otherwise, he will become a restricted free agent next offseason.
The Hornets could sign Miller to a major rookie-scale extension before that deadline.
Kon Knueppel, Grant Williams Will Miss Preseason
On Sept. 25, the Hornets announced that Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams suffered hamstring injuries during offseason on-court activity. Both players will miss the preseason. The team will re-evaluate both during the first week of the regular season.
Knueppel, the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke, averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 81 games as a rookie. He made 273 3-pointers and shot 42.5% from 3-point range. No rookie before him had led the NBA in total 3-pointers made. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg.
Williams, a Charlotte native, returned in January after missing about 14 months with a knee injury he suffered Nov. 23, 2024, against Milwaukee.
Hornets Enter Camp With New-Look Starting Group
Before the hamstring injuries, Charlotte was expected to start Coby White, Miller, Knueppel, Naz Reid, and Moussa Diabaté. The Hornets acquired Reid from Minnesota in the trade that sent LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Timberwolves, and they sent Miles Bridges to Phoenix. Knueppel told the Milwaukee Uncut podcast in July that the Ball trade was a shock.
Charlotte plays the first of four preseason games Oct. 6 against the Brooklyn Nets. The regular season opens Oct. 21 at Brooklyn, and the Hornets' home opener is against the Atlanta Hawks.
