2023 No. 2 pick Brandon Miller and 2023 No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson faced off for the first time in their careers last week, with Henderson’s Portland Trail Blazers pulling out a narrow three-point victory over Miller’s Charlotte Hornets.
Brandon Miller, Scoot Henderson Sing Praises After First Meeting
Miller finished the game with a team-high 21 points on 9-20 shooting from the field (1-8 from 3). He also added two steals and a block.
Henderson ended the contest with 22 points, a team-high 10 assists (six turnovers), and one steal. He shot 9-16 from the field and 4-7 from 3.
After the game, Miller and Henderson offered complimentary scouting reports on the other.
“Just to go against each other early in our careers — like, there’s gonna be even more fun in the long run,” Henderson says, per The Charlotte Observer’s Shane Connuck. “(Miller) can shoot it really, really well. Off the dribble, catch and shoot. That really stuck out to me.”
“He can do a bit of everything, tonight he was knocking down threes,” Miller says of Henderson. “A big physical guard who can get downhill and finish around the rim and create.”
“I think it’s a good fit for him in Portland,” Miller adds, “because he has pieces around him who can knock down shots. So you know he’s going to have a great career and I look forward to playing against him again.”
Neither were off the marks in their assessment.
Miller is a do-it-all wing whose poise and polish are well beyond his years. In any other season, he would have a legitimate shot at Rookie of the Year. Averaging 17.3 points per game while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from 3, he’s looked every bit like a player worthy of his draft selection.
It’s disappointing that he and LaMelo Ball haven’t played much together this season. Nonetheless, Miller getting early reps as a go-to scorer accelerated his development and Charlotte’s timeline.
Henderson has had a rockier rookie season. Not just in terms of his performance on the floor but staying on it; he’s been limited to 58 games due to injury. However, he’s shown flashes of being a high-level starting point guard due to his combination of size, speed, and upside as a two-way playmaker.
Future Outlook
Miller and Henderson have shown enough in their rookie season to be confident in their potential. As a result, the Hornets and Blazers will enter the offseason trying to figure out the best way to build around their young core.
In the case of Charlotte, the next step could be finding a 3-and-D wing. A prospect who can play off of Miller and Ball offensively while taking pressure off them defensively may be ideal. However, the Hornets could also look to replace the embattled Miles Bridges this offseason.
In the case of Portland, the best path forward is similar. Pencil Henderson in as a starter, with Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant, and Anfernee Simons sure to join him. In that event, a 3-and-D wing that can play off them offensively is the optimal prospect.
