Year 3 is often a turning point for NBA prospects.

As rookie deals near their end, teams usually have a clear read on a player’s ceiling — and whether or not he’s worth building around. It’s also when many take the leap and make it clear they’re stars. In their third seasons, LeBron James and Anthony Davis made their first playoff appearances, while Kevin Durant and Anthony Edwards earned their first All-Star nods.

As the members of the 2023 draft class enter their third year, No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama already looks like a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer. The player taken right after him, Brandon Miller, is steadily carving out his identity.

The 6-foot-9 wing drew Paul George comparisons leading up to draft night for his length and smooth scoring ability—and two seasons in, those comparisons have proven to be justified. Across 101 career games, he is averaging 18.3 points and 3.9 three-pointers. His sophomore season with the Charlotte Hornets, however, was cut short by a wrist injury that limited him to only 27 games.

Now, heading into Year 3, Charlotte needs him not only to pick up from where he left off, but keep pushing towards the All-Star level that many believe he can reach.

A bump in his shooting efficiency would go a long way in helping him achieve this. His field goal shooting took a dip in his second year too from 44.0% to 40.3% which is likely due to his increased role in the team’s offense. 

Once he grows more comfortable playing in a featured role and improves his shot selection, this number should naturally move back higher. If Miller can also raise his three-point clip from 36.6% closer to 40%, it would make a non-negligible impact on his numbers and open up Charlotte’s on court spacing. Given the profile of his game, Miller could eventually mature into a 50-40-90 type of player in the long run–highlighting how high his ceiling is in the NBA. 

These traits make Miller the ideal running mate for LaMelo Ball. Charlotte’s rebuild hinges on this duo finding its rhythm and meshing on the court. The Hornets have not made the playoffs since 2016, but with Ball’s playmaking enhancing Miller’s scoring ability, the hope is that this drought finally ends in the upcoming season.

The roster around them is a mix of unproven pieces and veteran outcasts, which gives Miller a clear runway to emerge as the team’s primary scorer. Opportunity and chances will not be an issue, consistency will be. If he can put up numbers on a consistent basis, it will not only lift his profile, but this team’s ceiling as well.

It feels like Year 3 is going to be the one where Miller takes the leap—and takes this entire franchise with him. Charlotte’s long wait for postseason basketball might finally be over, that is, if Miller can turn into the player that everyone knows that he can become.