NBA Draft: Brandon Miller Breaks Alabama Record Amid Controversy
After a notable week for Brandon Miller off-court, the star Alabama forward played the best game of his collegiate career on Wednesday night.
In a gritty, two-point overtime win over fellow 2023 NBA Draft hopeful GG Jackson and the South Carolina Gamecocks, Miller put on his best performance to date. The 20-year-old poured on 41 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two blocks and one assists in true do-it-all fashion.
Miller finished 14-for-25 overall and 6-for-13 from beyond the arc. He also hit all but one of his eight free throw attempts.
With the game tied at 76 and around seven seconds remaining in overtime, Miller began to make his move on Jackson. He slowed his dribble and positioned the ball in his right hand before a looping crossover that sent it to his left. He flew by Jackson and elevated over another closing Gamecock to sink the bucket and seal the would-be upset.
It wasn’t a sure thing that Miller would suit up for the Crimson Tide. But an announcement just a few hours to tipoff made it known, with Alabama calling Miller “an active member of our team."
Despite being amid controversy, his performance was one for the ages, and his 41 points were the most by a freshman in Division I basketball so far this season and the record for an Alabama freshman all-time.
At 6-foot-9 with innate scoring ability, Miller is one of the top prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft.
One report seems to have conflicted opinions on whether Miller’s incident will affect his draft stock, with one NBA executive stating: “No impact at all NBA Draft-wise,”
For now, Miller will continue to help the second-ranked Crimson Tide pursue an NCAA championship honing his skills in the process.
Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.