Brandon Miller didn’t mince words after the Charlotte Hornets' dominant win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. When asked about LaMelo Ball’s impact, Miller made it clear: when Ball is healthy, the Hornets are a different animal.
“I've been saying it for a long time now… when he's healthy, it could be a dangerous season for any team that steps on the floor with us,” Miller said postgame. “Him being our leader-the head of the snake-it goes a long way for us and the young core.”
That’s not just lip service. The chemistry between Ball and Miller has been steadily building, and Monday’s performance was another sign that this duo is starting to click in a big way.
Ball, now in his sixth season, didn’t need a full workload to make his presence felt. In just 20 minutes, he dished out eight assists, scored 11 points, and added a pair of rebounds and a steal.
His shooting wasn’t lights out-4-of-12 from the field and 2-of-6 from deep-but his fingerprints were all over the Hornets’ offensive rhythm.
Miller, meanwhile, put on a show. The third-year wing was scorching hot, pouring in 30 points on an ultra-efficient 9-of-11 shooting.
He knocked down six of his eight three-point attempts and was perfect from the free-throw line. Add in eight boards, two assists, and two steals, and it was a complete performance from a player who’s looking more and more like a cornerstone in Charlotte’s rebuild.
The Hornets didn’t just beat Philly-they overwhelmed them. Eight players hit double figures in scoring, a testament to the team’s ball movement and depth when things are clicking.
🎙️ Brandon Miller on LaMelo Ball's impact:
— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) January 27, 2026
"I've been saying it for a long time now... when he's healthy, it could be a dangerous season for any team that steps on the floor with us. Him being our leader—the head of the snake—it goes a long way for us and the young core." pic.twitter.com/cUebNGAk9P
And yes, a lot of that starts with Ball at the helm. His ability to control tempo, find shooters, and create out of nothing gives Charlotte a dimension they simply don’t have when he’s sidelined.
With the win, the Hornets improved to 19-28 on the season, good for 12th in the Eastern Conference. They’ve now strung together three straight victories, and while there’s still work to do, there’s real momentum building.
They’re currently 5.5 games ahead of the Brooklyn Nets and eight games clear of the Indiana Pacers. The next targets?
The Milwaukee Bucks, who sit just half a game ahead, and the Atlanta Hawks, 3.5 games up.
Next up, the Hornets hit the road to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 28.
With Ball rounding into form and Miller playing with confidence, Charlotte’s young core is starting to find its stride. If they can keep this energy going, the second half of the season could get a lot more interesting in Buzz City.