For even NBA history’s most talented Year One players, the opportunity to prove their organization right can take weeks, months, or even years. For the Charlotte Hornets and 2023 No. 2 pick Brandon Miller, the ready-or-not moment arrived with express shipping, in the heart of the fourth quarter of his first-ever game. With the list of factors capable of disrupting his debut growing increasingly larger — from foul trouble to the Atlanta Hawks’ defense to the immediate pressures of late-game basketball — the Hornets rookie was, ironically, unflappable. Calm and collected, Miller introduced himself with unselfish playmaking, crowd-igniting above-the-rim activity, and a smooth perimeter stroke. Saving his best for last, Miller erupted for an eight-points-in-two-minutes outburst, supplying Charlotte a lead it wouldn't relinquish on October 25, 2023. Miller set the groundwork for a season that would include a top-five finish in clutch field goal percentage (among 136 players with at least 20 clutch shots), a three-month Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month sweep, and a nod as a 2023-24 Rookie of the Year finalist. Prompt in his impact, Miller stabilized the Hornets with 13 points, three rebounds, two dimes, and three 3-pointers in 24 minutes. · Oct 25, 2023