Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller and his foundation provided local Concord, NC families with an early Christmas celebration on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at the Boys & Girls Club in Cabarrus. By Jeff Siner
Jolly Old Saint Nick had a remixed look.
Dressed in a black leather outfit complete with strings and all, Brandon Miller chose different attire than the traditional garb typically adorned by other impersonators. In reality, the Charlotte Hornets swingman could boast any outfit on this day and it wouldn’t have mattered.
Miller surprised several families at the Concord Boys & Girls Club with holiday gifts on Monday, handing out presents ranging from Sony Playstation 5 consoles to mountain bikes. His motivation stems from a personal desire to help, influenced by parents Darrell and Yolanda Miller, and there are fewer things Miller enjoys more than putting a smile on the face of a child.
“Yeah, definitely just means a lot,” Miller told The Charlotte Observer upon the event’s conclusion, “just even having kids in my presence and having them smiling around me and just all the great energy. Couldn’t ask for anything more from any kid or any family, just knowing that anything is possible.”
Anywhere and everywhere. Concord happens to be the most recent beneficiary.
“Just seeing the kids, actually, I don’t think that the location really matters,” Miller said. “I feel like I’m doing it for all kids around the world. So, maybe one day we can do it for everybody around the world and every state, which would be the goal. But like I said, I’m just trying to start small here by putting a smile on the kids’ face and the parents’ faces and always giving back to them.”
Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller, right, rubs his hands together as Brianna Downs, left, unwraps a Christmas present for her children Emmerson, Carter and Braxton at the Boys and Girls Club of Cabarrus in Concord, NC on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. Miller and his foundation surprised families with gifts ahead of the Christmas holiday. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
In a way, these types of moments represent an escape for Miller. The grind of an NBA season, along with dealing with injuries as he has the past two seasons, can be a lot to navigate, emotionally and physically.
That’s why he peels back the curtain, allowing people to witness another perspective.
“It helps you out a lot as a basketball player, just helps you grow as a man, definitely,” Miller said. “Just to see the outside world that’s not just basketball. I think everybody’s kind of caught up in just the basketball part. But they don’t really see the outside part, the foundation stuff. So, just having stuff like this is good for me and my career for a long time.”
Miller is coming off one of his best games of the season, where he posted 25 points in the Hornets’ win in Cleveland — the most since netting 27 in their victory over Chicago on Nov. 28 — and hit a critical 3-pointer to send the game into overtime.
Although his overall shooting percentages are down compared to his career numbers, he’s sure his form will return to where it should be.
“Definitely, feeling good, just glad to be back out there,” said Miller, who was battling a left shoulder subluxation earlier in the season. “My guys, just helping them in any way I can. Whether it’s defense, offense, getting people in the right places, whatever. Whatever I can do that can put us in the best place to win a basketball game. That’s really it.”
As for a message to Hornets’ fans weary about the team’s sub-.500 record, Miller is encouraging everyone to remain on board.
“Just keep cheering us on,” Miller said. “I don’t think there’s anything more, anything less than that. Just keep cheering us on. Be there every night supporting us. They give us the spark that we need each night. Whether it’s an away game or home game. So, just keep cheering us on, rooting us on, and it’s all going to be great.”
A leaner Josh Green
With two games under his belt, Josh Green is officially back.
After missing the Hornets’ initial 24 games of the season rehabilitating from June surgery on his left shoulder, he’s working through the rust and shot the ball well against Cleveland on Sunday. Green netted eight points, making 3 of 6 attempts and going 2-for-5 beyond the 3-point arc, and collected a pair of rebounds along with a steal.
The Observer caught up with Green to get his thoughts on his return and what he expects moving forward the rest of the season.
Roderick Boone: What’s it been like for you these last six months to have to endure all this process of rehab and kind of get on the court again?
Josh Green: “Yeah, it’s been very tough for me. I was hoping I could go into last offseason, just my first offseason in a number of years. And to be able to have to go through a shoulder surgery definitely was frustrating. But for me, I felt like I was able to go a lot during that time, had a good break and I feel like my body’s just a lot more rested and feels a lot better, a lot healthier than it did. So, I just see that as an advantage and just happy to be back out on the court.”
Josh Green of the Charlotte Hornets. Luke Hales Getty Images
RB: You seem like you’re in pretty good shape, maybe a bit leaner. How is that going to help you out?
JG: I just think I just focus on trying to be the best player I can be this summer. I think I’ve been taking my diet and everything very seriously since the injury. So, for me, it’s just like, however, whatever I can do to improve, to help the team out. It wasn’t like I was trying to lose weight. It’s just more I was just being careful with what I was eating.
RB: Coach Charles Lee has spoken about your defense and hoping that you can guard the other team’s primary creators and scorers. How much would that be able to help this team out?
JG: Yeah, I think it’s always fun to be able to guard the primary guy. I think for me, I just want to try to bring as much winning as I can, try to play in a winning way. And if that’s guarding the best player, that’s guarding the best player. I enjoy it. I’m competitive, so it’s fun for me.
KJ Simpson showing growth
The recent constant shuffling in the backcourt, which is a direct result of the injuries LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann are nursing, has paved the path for more playing time for KJ Simpson.
And the second-year guard is all about seizing the opportunity.
KJ Simpson of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles as Landry Shamet of the New York Knicks defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Sarah Stier Getty Images
In two of the four games this season where he’s logged 20 minutes or more, Simpson is averaging at least 10 points and five rebounds. That includes his top outing of 2025-26, when he posted a season-high 16 points on the strength of a career-best 13-point first half in the Hornets’ Dec. 7 loss to Denver.
But Simpson’s main focus is what transpires on the other end of the court.
“One thing about me is, I’m going to be all around and it starts my defense,” Simpson said. “And I try to let that set the tone for everything else for me, for the team, for attacking our offense. Obviously, I’m looking to get a lot of guys involved, but I think because that’s the one area of growth that the team really wanted me as after last season, I think I stepped it up a lot.
“It’s kind of helped me to excel in the role. Now, I’m getting the opportunity to play, and it was just a matter of time. And I’ve just been working, staying at it.”