Brandon Miller · Towards the end of a podcast appearance alongside his NBA idol, Brandon Miller, just weeks removed from being drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, acknowledged that individual goals weren’t something he’d considered ahead of Year One. Though the No. 2 pick would later render it irrelevant by fulfilling goals of a different kind — field goals — Miller recognized only one objective in the lead-up to his professional career: longevity. One season in, it’s safe to say that the smooth-shooting highflyer has, fittingly, gotten off on the right foot. Showcasing NBA-ready poise from Day One, Miller amazed, even during a season mired by injuries and roster shake-ups. The Hornets’ swingman’s flight proved particularly high from late-January to season’s end, when he swept the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors and metamorphosed into a nightly 20-point threat. With handwriting already inked into Charlotte’s franchise record books, the third-place Rookie of the Year finalist flashed superstar-type traits, ranking No. 2 among rookies in scoring (17.3), No. 4 all-time among first-year players in 3-pointers (184), and No. 1 in minutes played (32.2) setting the stage for a sophomore campaign in which Miller has his eyes, ironically, on a goal: the 2025 NBA Playoffs. · State of Mint · State of Mint