NBA Draft prospect Brandon Miller has surprised fans by naming Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George his greatest basketball player of all time. Miller did so just days after working out in front of legendary Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan, who is a much more popular pick for the GOAT label than George.
Miller met Jordan at his second private workout with the Hornets and is reported to have impressed the all-time legend, according to ESPN. It was the first time he had met Jordan and Miller said: "It's exciting, you know? He's Michael Jordan. It's exciting to meet him."
The Hornets, who hold the second-overall pick, could draft Miller on Thursday night. But he risked upsetting the ultra-competitive Jordan and GOAT contender LeBron James with his comments touting George's credentials, which have caused plenty of surprise on social media.
"No, because I actually don't think LeBron is the GOAT of basketball," Miller told Bally Sports. "My GOAT of basketball is Paul George. I grew up watching him, so it was never just LeBron."
George is no slouch, having made eight NBA All-Star teams and four All-Defensive teams. That said, his record pales in comparison to Jordan, James and many other basketball legends.
The Clippers forward has never reached an NBA Finals, nor has he ever claimed MVP. The most iconic moment of his career is arguably when Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard drilled a Game 5 buzzer-beater over his outstretched arm to eliminate him from the Playoffs in 2019.
For comparison, Jordan won six NBA championships and five MVPs. James has won four NBA titles and four MVPs.
In fairness to Miller, he might feel a special connection to George because of their similar playing styles. They are both versatile wing players with long-range shooting capabilities. As a kid, Miller watched George break onto the scene from relative obscurity with the Indiana Pacers, guiding the team to the Eastern Conference finals.
If George hadn't suffered a career-altering broken leg in 2014, he may have gone on to achieve greater things. Injuries have robbed the 33-year-old of precious time during the second half of his career. He missed the Playoffs with the Clippers this past season because of a knee problem.
Miller may share a conference with George and James next season if Jordan's Hornets snub him at No. 2 in the draft, as the Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets would be next on the clock barring a trade.
Any NBA team that drafts Miller will hope he develops into a player at least as good as George. According to ESPN, the impressive forward from the University of Alabama recently drew rave reviews from Charlotte's front office during a pre-draft workout with the organisation.
Because the Hornets already have a long-term point guard in LaMelo Ball, they are reportedly leaning towards selecting Miller over promising guard Scoot Henderson because he better meets their positional needs.
Miller averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game at Alabama while shooting 38.4 per cent from 3-point range. As long as his on-court decision-making is better than his GOAT choice, he should be all right in the NBA.
