NBA Draft: Brandon Miller does NOT expect to be charged for ‘delivering gun in fatal shooting’

NBA hopeful and former Alabama star Brandon Miller insists he won’t face any charges in connection with a fatal January 15 shooting near the Tuscaloosa campus, nor does he think the tragedy will impact his prospects at Thursday’s draft in Brooklyn.

The 20-year-old reigning SEC Player of the Year was linked to the shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris earlier this year when police testified that Miller delivered a handgun to teammate Darius Miles, which was ultimately used by another man, Michael Lynn Davis, to kill the woman. While Miles and Davis remain in jail awaiting trail on capital murder charges, Miller has not been arrested in the case. His attorney says he never handled the firearm and did not have any idea that the shooting would take place.

Speaking with reporters in Manhattan on Wednesday, the 20-year-old initially declined to speak about the shooting (‘That’s one thing I can’t talk about here’), but went on to say that he does not expect to be charged.

If the order draft order holds in the absence of any trades, Miller is expected to be taken second overall by the Charlotte Hornets or third by the Portland Trail Blazers. And as far as the shooting impacting his draft status, the 6-foot-9 forward said he still expects to be among the first players taken Thursday night.

‘NBA teams kinda did their background on me and they kinda found out that I was a great guy, great character,’ Miller said. ‘I don’t think they’re really worried about the character part of it now. I think it’s just basketball now.’

Miller said Wednesday he won’t face charges in connection with a fatal January 15 shooting

Jamea Harris (left), a 23-year-old mother, was shot to death near the University of Alabama campus on January 14. Crimson Tide forward Darius Miles (right) is charged with her murder

And as far as basketball goes, there’s not much to be concerned about when it comes to Miller.

Although he disappointed in the NCAA Tournament, scoring just nine points as top-seeded Alabama fell to San Diego State in the Sweet 16, Miller was arguably the top player in the country in 2022-23.

Not only did he average an impressive 18.8 points a game to go with 8.2 rebounds a night and 85.9-percent shooting from the free-throw line, but Miller also made 38.4 percent of his 3-point attempts, which bodes well for his chances at the next level.

Just where he’ll be playing remains unclear.

Both Charlotte and Portland have elite point guards, which could make Scoot Henderson – Miller’s main rival for the second pick – redundant on both rosters. That predicament has led to a number of trade rumors circulating around the second and third picks, when Miller is expected to be drafted.

The Hornets still did their due diligence, though, inviting Miller in for a workout that was attended by none other than Michael Jordan, who was majority owner at the time. The Chicago Bulls legend has since sold his majority stake to Gabe Plotkin, pending league approval.

‘No, I wasn’t actually [nervous],’ Miller said Wednesday. ‘I can see why [you would think so], because he’s Michael Jordan, but honestly, I kinda seen him in the room as just a regular person in there, just watching me work out. But just knowing he’s Michael Jordan, he’s not just a regular person, kinda motivated me, actually.

‘He’s a great dude. He makes you feel like you’re at home, so he doesn’t bring try and bring any stress upon you.’

The best part: talking trash with Jordan.

‘Meeting him and him talking trash, to me, is probably the coolest thing ever,’ Miller said. ‘I have one up on him: He air-balled a free throw.’

Jordan also stressed work ethic in his meeting with Miller, who said it’s the same message he’s received from his parents since he was a young child growing up in Tennessee.

Miller also said he models his game after the Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George, whom he considers better than LeBron James.