Michael Jordan calls Brandon Miller after NBA Draft selection
In the days leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft, former Alabama star Brandon Miller worked out for the Charlotte Hornets and met with current owner Michael Jordan. It was all part of the decision-making process as the franchise decided between Miller and Scoot Henderson toward the top of the board.
Ultimately, Charlotte chose Miller — and he got a call from “His Airness,” himself.
The Hornets social media team had the cameras rolling when Jordan made the call to talk to Miller after taking him No. 2 overall. The legendary Chicago Bulls star is on his way out as majority owner of the franchise, selling his stake for $3 billion ahead of the draft.
But before he moves on, he wanted to make sure Charlotte’s newest star got a warm welcome. Of course, he had an important question to ask first.
“Can you palm a ball yet?” Jordan asked with a chuckle.
“Welcome, man. I’m looking forward to seeing you play,” Jordan added. “I know you’ve been talking to [LaMelo Ball] already, haven’t you? … You know what happens now, right? You’ve got to get to work, dude. Alright, man, I’m very proud. Very happy to have you.”
Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak: Brandon Miller ‘was our favorite all along’
With Victor Wembanyama the consensus No. 1 pick to the San Antonio Spurs, all eyes were on what the Hornets would do. They could’ve gone with Henderson, the electrifying guard from G-League Ignite. Or, they could’ve taken Miller, the SEC Freshman of the Year who helped lead Alabama to the No. 1 overall seed in March Madness.
Miller wound up getting the nod — a decision Charlotte general manager Mitch Kupchak said was the plan from the get-go.
“Obviously, there were two players that were heavily considered at that position, and Brandon was the favorite all along,” Kupchak said. “But to do your due diligence, you bring them in the one time, and then you’re allowed to bring them in the second time, which everyone knows we did on Monday. It wasn’t the easiest of decisions, but Brandon was our favorite all along.
“(We had) a lot of spirited discussion in the last 3-4 days, which I welcome. I think it’s good for the basketball department to discuss pros and cons, pluses and minuses, argue a little bit. So obviously our opinion from the beginning did not change, but it was a process.”