We are near the top of the 2023 NBA Draft prospects list and have hit the upper echelon of potential franchise-changing prospects. Let’s address the non-basketball elephant in the room with Brandon Miller and move on from it for this post so we can dig into his game on the court. As a freshman at Alabama, he allegedly provided a gun to his teammate who was later arrested and charged with murder with that firearm. No charges were filed against Miller at that time and none will be according to police officials. NBA teams will weigh in on that situation when considering the prospect, but for this profile’s purposes, it will only be about the talent on the court. Miller is considered the best prospect coming out of college basketball this season and in most years that would earn him the number one overall pick, but 2023 has generational talent at the top.
Three-Point Shooting
The name of the game in the modern NBA is knocking down the three-ball. Every single position on the court needs to be at least serviceable from beyond the arc in most cases now. Coming out of high school Brandon Miller did not project to be a great three-point shooter but found the range at the college level. In his sole season with the Alabama Crimson Tide, he made 2.9 threes per game with a three-point percentage of 38.4 percent. His form has improved throughout his year in college and with his height and high release, it will be harder for even NBA players to successfully contest or block his shot from beyond the arc. He has the ability to pull up and score and also is a knockdown spot-up shooter on the court. Miller is also capable of creating his own shot but could get better at that aspect of his game.
Size
Three-point shooters are valuable at any position, but a sharpshooter at the forward spots is vital for NBA team success. Brandon Miller is already built like an ideal NBA forward with room to grow and fill out in an NBA weight room. He is listed at 6’9″ and 200 pounds currently, again with a chance to add even more muscle in the next few years. While his wingspan is not officially measured at this time, it is likely between 7’0″ and 7’1″ which is a great length at his position. Because of his size, Miller is suited to play either forward position and will pose a nightmare matchup at either spot. Finding a forward that can match him on both ends and match his size could prove difficult for the opposing team night in and night out. His size also contributes to his other major strength on the court, his defensive ability.
Defense
Offense is the name of the game in the NBA, but a talented two-way player is still incredibly valuable for NBA teams. Brandon Miller has the potential to be an amazing two-way player in the NBA. His size paired with his skill and instincts on the court could prove to be a perfect combination. While at Alabama he averaged just under one steal and one block per game as a freshman. He can guard both on and off the ball against most forwards. He may be able to stretch his defense to some guards but would struggle against faster point guards and bigger centers. Asking that of him would not entirely be fair and expecting him to do it for more than a possession would be unlikely. He switches well overall and just seems to have great instincts that should be honed at the next level. Miller needs some polish but has the tools to be an elite NBA defender.
Weaknesses
The top concern for Brandon Miller is his seeming lack of any burst especially when driving to the rim. He struggles to create separation when driving and even against less talented defensive matchups he sometimes struggled. This has led to him taking bad mid-range pullups and overall he is not very good at scoring inside or in the mid-range area. Another major issue with his game is his lack of bounce despite his athletic ability. Whether it’s from lack of desire or lack of strength, Miller is not the force one would expect him to be on the court. While he seems to have all the tools to be a good defender, he doesn’t always put in the effort to truly lock down his opposing matchup. He showed flashes of being a good passer but does not seem to have the NBA range to pull off that ability for now.
NBA Comparison: Paul George
Paul George was a player near the top of the league for a few seasons and is still a very talented player on the court. A two-way forward who came into the league needing to add muscle and polish his offensive game. That was exactly what Paul George ended up doing and is exactly what Brandon Miller will need to do once he is drafted. Miller will likely be the second or third pick on draft night so expectations will be high very early on in his career. Overall it seems his off-court mistake has not been a problem since and for now he has learned from the experience. The concerns about him disappearing in big moments during the 2023 NCAA Tournament are somewhat overblown and likely an unfair standard to hold for a freshman in college basketball.
