Brandon Miller drafted by Michael Jordan’s Charlotte Hornets with the No. 2 pick — five months after police said he gave the gun to Alabama teammate Darius Miles in a shooting that killed the 23-year-old woman
Brandon Miller has been drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 2 pick of the NBA Draft in New York.
The 20-year-old former Alabama star is one of the most controversial shots in this year’s event following his involvement in a shooting that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris earlier this year.
Tuscaloosa police testified that Miller delivered a gun to teammate Darius Miles, which was eventually used by another man, Michael Lynn Davis, to kill the woman.
While Miles and Davis remain in jail awaiting trial for murder, Miller has not been arrested in the case. His lawyer says he never handled the firearm and had no idea any shots were fired. Miller’s coach, Nate Oats, said it was a case of “wrong place, wrong time.”
And after choosing him Thursday night, the Hornets seem to agree.
Brandon Miller was called up Thursday night in New York by NBA team Charlotte Hornets
Miller, a six-foot tall forward from Alabama, is one of the most popular basketball players in the US
On the eve of the Draft, Miller said he doesn’t expect any further police action, after first saying the incident is “the one thing I can’t talk about.”
But when asked about his future in basketball, Miller said, “NBA teams sort of based their background on me and they came to think I was a great guy, a great character.
“I don’t think they’re really worried about the character part of it right now. I think it’s just basketball now.’
A six-foot-tall forward, Miller disappointed in the NCAA Tournament, scoring just nine points as top-seeded Alabama fell to San Diego State in the Sweet 16, but otherwise he was one of the best players in the league last season. the United States.
Not only did he average an impressive 18.8 points per game to go with 8.2 rebounds per night and 85.9 percent shooting from the free throw line, but Miller also made 38.4 percent of his three-point attempts, which bodes well for his chances at the next level.
Miller was recently invited to a training session by Charlotte Hornets, which was attended by then-owner Michael Jordan.
Miller insisted that the presence of the NBA and Chicago Bulls did not affect him.
‘No, I wasn’t actually [nervous]Miller said Wednesday. ‘I can see why [you would think so]because he’s Michael Jordan, but honestly I kind of saw him in the room as a regular person in there just watching me work out.
Jamea Harris (left), a 23-year-old mother, was shot dead on January 14 near the University of Alabama campus. Crimson Tide forward Darius Miles (right) is charged with murder
“But just knowing that he’s Michael Jordan, he’s not just an ordinary person, actually kind of motivated me.
‘He’s a great guy. He makes you feel like you are at home, so he tries not to burden you.
“Meeting him talking nonsense is probably the coolest thing ever for me. I got one on him – he shot a free throw.