Brandon Miller didn’t just make a statement Thursday night - he put it on a poster.
In a 133-126 win over the Atlanta Hawks, the Charlotte Hornets forward delivered one of the most jaw-dropping dunks of the NBA season. Early in the second quarter, Miller caught a transition feed from Moussa Diabaté and took flight, rising up and hammering it down right over Hawks guard Vít Krejčí. It was the kind of moment that gets replayed on highlight reels for weeks - a pure adrenaline jolt that lit up the Hornets bench and brought the Spectrum Center crowd to its feet.
But Miller wasn’t just about the theatrics. He backed up the highlight with a full night’s work, finishing with 26 points on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting, including 4-for-9 from deep. He also added eight assists, five rebounds, and three steals - a complete two-way performance that showed just how impactful he can be when he’s fully engaged and healthy.
And he wasn’t alone. The Hornets had five players score in double figures, with LaMelo Ball and rookie Kon Knueppel both dropping 28 points, Miles Bridges adding 16, and Tidjane Salaun chipping in 10. Charlotte was scorching from beyond the arc, hitting 24 of their 49 attempts - a 49% clip that kept Atlanta chasing all night.
For Miller, this was his fifth straight game scoring in double figures, a stretch that started back on December 5 in a blowout win over Toronto. He’s been trending upward ever since, including a 25-point, 13-rebound effort in an overtime win against Cleveland last Sunday. After battling through injuries for much of his young career, this recent run is exactly what Charlotte’s front office - and fanbase - has been hoping to see.
Now in his third season, Miller has had his share of setbacks. He missed 16 games earlier this year with a left shoulder subluxation suffered in just the second game of the season.
That came on the heels of wrist surgery in January 2025 to repair a torn scapholunate ligament, which ended his sophomore campaign prematurely. But when he’s on the floor, there’s no denying his value.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft is averaging 18.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists this season, while shooting 38.3% from the field and 33% from three. The numbers are solid, but more importantly, his confidence and rhythm are starting to catch up with his talent.
For a Hornets team still deep in the rebuilding process, Miller’s emergence as a reliable two-way contributor is a major development. He’s not just filling up the box score - he’s giving Charlotte the kind of energy and edge that can shift momentum in a game, or maybe even a season.
And if Thursday night’s dunk is any indication, Brandon Miller isn’t just back - he’s ready to take off.