New Hornets Big Man Naz Reid Compares Brandon Miller to Anthony Edwards

While speaking to local reporters after practice, new Charlotte Hornets big man Naz Reid compared Brandon Miller to Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards.

Reid said he saw Edwards take his game to another level in Year 4. Miller is entering Year 4 this season and Reid believes the forward can do what Edwards did in Minnesota. 

Miller appeared in 65 games for the Hornets last season, his third year in the NBA. He averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 43.5% from the field, 38.3% from beyond the arc and 89.2% from the free-throw line.

The Hornets open the 2026-27 season on the road against the Brooklyn Nets. The home opener is against the Atlanta Hawks.

Miller enters this season with career averages of 19.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. He was the second overall pick in the 2023 draft. 

Charlotte traded LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges in the offseason, so Miller's usage rate will be high this season. Head coach Charles Lee is widely expected to start Coby White, Miller, Kon Knueppel, Reid and Moussa Diabaté.

That's a strong starting five on paper for Lee, who is looking to lead the Hornets franchise to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. 

The Hornets never made the playoffs with Ball and Bridges leading the way. It's time to see if Miller and Knueppel can do what Ball and Bridges failed to accomplish.

Even though Knueppel didn't win the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year award, he still had a special season for the Hornets. The swingman averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game and shot 47.5% from the field, 42.5% from 3 and 86.3% from the free-throw line. He led the NBA in 3-pointers.

Many Hornets fans are excited to watch Reid play. Reid won the 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year award. He enters this season with regular-season averages of 11.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game and playoff averages of 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. 

For Minnesota last season, Reid averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 45.6% from the field, 36.2% from beyond the arc and 73.2% from the free-throw line. He recorded six double-doubles. 

Miller and Knueppel are the new franchise players in Charlotte with Ball and Bridges gone. Both youngsters have a lot of untapped potential and it will be interesting to see how Reid meshes with the youngsters.