I hate the argument that the Hornets
can't draft Scoot Henderson because they already have a point guard in Lamelo Ball. It's a lazy take, which is completely disproven by just a little research into the advanced stats. But that story is for another day.
The point is, I am a huge fan of Scoot and his game, and strongly believe that he is the right pick for the Hornets at 2. But goddammit, I can't help but love every single word Brandon Miller said in his Draft Combine interview.
What most impressed me was his continuous notion towards his desire of being a two-way player. The truly great players don't need to have their shot falling to have an impact on the game. Instead, they make it up on the defensive side of the ball, with energy and hustle (the one thing a player CAN control). After Miller brought this up, I rewatched some of Alabama's March Madness campaign tape.
Whilst his offensive struggles were extremely evident, Miller still had more of an impact on the game than almost anyone else on the court. Whether it was diving for loose balls, sprinting back in transition, or even the simple things like staying in front of his opponent, when most players his age would instinctively go for steals and tips, that if gone wrong typically leaves them exposed.
That is the mindset required of a winning player, and while I still believe Scoot is the right pick, my stocks have never been closer.
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