Brandon Miller (basketball, born 2002)
A smooth-shooting forward whose explosive college season made him a top NBA draft pick, tasked with reviving the Charlotte Hornets' fortunes.
Born 2002 (age 24)·American basketball player·Birthday: November 22·Generation Z
Biography
Brandon Miller arrived at the University of Alabama as a highly-touted recruit from Tennessee and immediately transformed the Crimson Tide into a national contender. With a polished offensive game rare for a freshman, he could score from all three levels—attacking the rim, pulling up from mid-range, and firing from deep with a quick, high release. His sophomore-year campaign was a revelation, earning him SEC Player of the Year honors and a spot as a consensus First-Team All-American. While his tournament run ended controversially, his talent was undeniable. The Charlotte Hornets selected him second overall in the 2023 draft, seeing him as a foundational piece and primary scoring option to build around. His rookie season was a bright spot in a difficult year for the franchise, showcasing the scoring prowess and poise that define his potential as a future NBA star.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Brandon was born in 2002, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brandon Was Born
The biggest hits of 2002
#1 Movie
Spider-Man
Best Picture
Chicago
#1 TV Show
Friends
Brandon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2002Born
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2007Started school
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2015Became a teenager
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Could drive
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2020Could vote
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2023Turned 21
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 24 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as the 2nd overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2023 NBA Draft.
- Named the SEC Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and a consensus First-Team All-American in his lone college season at Alabama.
- Led the Alabama Crimson Tide to both the SEC regular-season and tournament championships in 2023.
- Set the Alabama freshman single-season scoring record with 696 points.
Did You Know?
He grew up playing basketball alongside his older brother, who inspired him to switch from football to basketball in the eighth grade.
In high school, he led Cane Ridge to a Tennessee state championship game, scoring 41 points in the semifinal.
He was a multi-sport athlete in his youth, also excelling in football as a wide receiver.
Miller wears jersey number 24 as a tribute to Kobe Bryant, whose work ethic and mentality he admires.
“I'm a three-level scorer who wants to be the best two-way player on the floor.”
