Brandon Miller wasted no time making a statement in the Charlotte Hornets’ season opener Wednesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Early in the first period against the Nets, the Hornets forward launched himself at the rim and finished with a violent dunk that sent Nets big man Moritz Wagner onto the highlight reel. It was the kind of finish that turns a regular possession into an instant candidate for Dunk of the Year.
The play started with a breakdown on defense. Miller had room to attack after somebody failed to get to him, and Julius Randle came over late to challenge the drive.
Miller, who will turn 24 years old in November, got past Randle with ease and found open space straight down the lane. Wagner stepped in, but by then it was already too late.
It was a thunderous way to open the season, and one that fit the kind of start Miller can provide when he gets downhill with a head of steam. There will be more big dunks across the NBA before the year is over, and Miller may well top this one. Still, this was about as emphatic a first slam as he could have asked for.
The moment also came shortly after Miller signed a $209 million contract extension with the Hornets in the offseason.
Selected second overall in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft, Miller averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 65 games during the 2025-26 campaign. He is looking to raise those numbers in his fourth season in the league.
In Other News...
Hornets Are Positioning For The Move Fans Have Been Waiting On
Jeff Petersons latest update offered a pretty clear read on where the Hornets see themselves right now: still building, but with the kind of optionality that can change quickly. Charlotte has spent the summer stacking financial flexibility and draft capital while reshaping the roster through a flurry of moves, including trades involving LaMelo Ball, Josh Green and Miles Bridges, plus the additions of Naz Reid, Dennis Schrder and a new deal for Coby White. The bigger picture is that the front office is not just collecting pieces for the sake of it, but creating room to chase a specific type of upgrade when the time is right.
For Hornets fans, that is the part worth watching as the team works toward the 2026-27 opener. The organization has leaned into future assets, with several incoming picks and swaps now part of its path forward, and Petersons comments made it clear those tools are meant to be used, not just stored away. The question is less whether Charlotte has the means to make a meaningful addition than when it will decide the market presents the right opening to do it. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets New Core Is Earning Attention Ahead Of A Pivotal Season
The Hornets spent the offseason turning over the top of their roster, moving on from LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Tre Mann while bringing in Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and Dennis Schroder. It is the kind of reshaping that usually comes with a waiting period, but Charlotte appears ready to skip ahead, with Coby White, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Reid and Moussa Diabate projected to make up the starting group when the season opens.
What makes the new-look lineup interesting is how quickly the conversation around the franchise has shifted toward Miller and Knueppel as the next faces of the team. Thats already drawing notice outside the organization, too, with Blake Griffin telling Bill Simmons that he likes what the Hornets are building. For a team that has spent plenty of time searching for direction, the attention is a sign that this version of Charlotte may have at least changed the way people view its future. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Opener Already Comes With A Rotation Concern Fans Will Notice
The first injury report of the season already gives the Hornets something to monitor as they head toward Wednesdays opener against Brooklyn. Charlotte and Orlando both released availability updates ahead of their season openers, and the Hornets side comes with the usual early-season caution, the kind that can force a coach to shuffle plans before the first game even tips.
Kon Knueppel, Grant Williams and Coby White have all gotten back to individual on-court work, which is encouraging in a broader sense, but none of them will be available for this one. Their absences leave Charlotte with an immediate rotation question to solve, and the team will have to manage those injuries carefully while trying to set a tone right away in the new season. [Read more 🡒]