Brandon Miller impresses in first meeting against his 'GOAT’ Paul George

The Charlotte Hornets might havelost the game, but Brandon Miller certainly left an impression inhis first opportunity to play against his “basketballGOAT.”

The rookie forward scored 22points on 8/19 shooting and sank in 5 threes in the Hornets’118-130 loss against Paul George and the Los AngelesClippers.

Miller missed the firstHornets-Clippers game earlier in the season due to an ankle injury,which Los Angeles also won, 113-104.

The 6-foot-9 Miller notablyexpressed his admiration for George’s game, noting how he regardsGeorge as his ‘role model’ and the player he studies and molds hisgame after.

In an interview with ESPN,Miller notes how George is the perfect archetype to study intoday’s NBA with his size, speed, fluidity, smoothness, andtwo-play play on the court.

"Paul George is the best playerin my eyes ... I don't really watch anybody else as far as tryingto get their moves down. Paul George is my GOAT,” Miller said.“It's kind of how the league is built now: Paul George is the rightperson to study for this generation."

The sweet-shooting rookie out ofAlabama witnessed firsthand how George operates, with the 6-foot-8former Indiana Pacer and Oklahoma City Thunder carving up theHornets’ defense to put up 41 points. George was ultra-efficient,going 14-21 from the field including 8/12 from the three-pointarea, and had an all-around game by adding 7 rebounds and 4assists.

Miller did his best to impressGeorge by scoring a few buckets over him and then expressed hisadmiration again for him after the game. The two swapped theirjerseys afterward.

“When he’s on the court, he’s[George] a great shotmaker but not just that – he takes pride onthe defensive side and that’s the one thing that stands out withhim and in his career. That’s why my favorite player is PaulGeorge.”

Paul George and Brandon Miller jersey swapafter the LAC-CHA game 🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/c4WROvHkPa

Miller also says he’s planningand looking forward to learning more about George in the summer,indicating the two working out together in theoffseason.

“That’s my big bro,” Miller saidof George. I’m looking forward to working out with him in thesummer – I know he’s going to be a tough matchup everytime we’regonna play with each other.”