The second choice in the NBA Draft on Thursday night sent Brandon Miller to the Charlotte Hornets, tying the former Alabama forward to a franchise that posted a 27-55 record last season, hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2016 and most recently won a playoff series in 2002.

When asked at his post-pick press conference at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, what he thought he brought to his new team, Miller used a word that has been lacking in Charlotte.

“I can say for me, I can bring just a winner,” Miller said. “I’m willing to make all the winning plays as far as on or off the court. So, yeah, a winner.”

In his only season with the Crimson Tide, Miller averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 37 games as he won the SEC Player of the Year Award for the 2022-23 season.

More to his Thursday night point, Miller led Alabama to the SEC regular-season and tournament championships and the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Tide won two games in the tourney before San Diego State upended Alabama on the Aztecs’ way to the national championship game.

The San Antonio Spurs’ choice at No. 1 on Thursday night carried no suspense, with Victor Wembanyama of France a foregone conclusion. But Charlotte’s selection of Miller was not a slam dunk on the outside looking in, with NBA G League standout Scoot Henderson also considered a possibility.

“When I found out?” Miller said. “Probably at least two seconds before they called my name. …

“It’s exciting, man. A dream come true. I’ve always dreamed of walking across the stage and shake their hand and take the pictures that we did, so it’s just all a dream come true.

“Just ready to get to Charlotte.”

Despite the 2022-23 results and Charlotte’s ranking of 27th in points among the 30 NBA teams in scoring last season, the Hornets had three players who averaged more than 20 points a game – LaMelo Ball at 23.3 points per game, Terry Rozier at 21.1 and Kelly Oubre Jr. at 20.3.

The problem was Ball missed 46 games, Oubre missed 34 and Rozier missed 19. The three also are better-suited to play guard, particularly Ball, who averaged 8.4 assists per game last season.

“He made me feel like a little brother away from home,” Miller said of Ball. “I feel like our bond will get closer due to the passage of time. I feel like we’re always going to be together. If not, I’m probably somewhere around him. Seeing him at my workout was kind of, not a dream, but it was a dream come true to see all the top guys watch you work out.”

Miller worked out twice for the Hornets in the pre-draft process.

“Brandon Miller, I think, has the ability to play several positions,” said Mitch Kupchak, Charlotte’s general manager. “He can make plays. He can run a pick-and-roll. He can rebound and bring the ball up the court. You know, for a 20-year-old, he’s got a game that translates to the NBA pretty easily.”

Miller could get his first work for the Hornets could come in the NBA 2K24 Summer League, which will be held in Las Vegas from July 7-17.

“It’s definitely a great program,” Miller said. “I want to come here and make it a better program.”

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.