Brandon Miller's involvement in tragic shooting casts doubt on his NBA prospects

Editors Note: Brandon Miller's attorney released a statement disputing some of the allegations put forward by the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Miller's counsel claims that Miller never saw the handgun or used it. They communicated that they believe the gun was concealer under clothing in the backseat - implying that Miller may have been unaware of its presence. They did confirm that Miles did text Miller to bring him his gun.

They also note that Miller never touched the gun and claim he never knew that any illegal involving the gun would take place. Miller's counsel also disputes that Miller blocked the victims car and highlights his ongoing cooperation with the investigation.

In a separate appearance, Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne also noted that Miller was already on his way to pick up Miles when he received the text about the weapon, he never left his vehicle, was not involved in the collection of the weapon, and was there for only moments before the shooting happened. Byrne also urged us all to defer to the facts provided by law enforcement throughout this process.

Scouts everywhere have viewed Brandon Miller as one of the best prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft. That all changed Tuesday.

Yesterday afternoon, as reported by Carol Robinson of AL.com, law enforcement testimony asserted that Miller supplied his former teammate Darius Miles and his friend Michael Davis with the handgun that would eventually end the life of 23-year-old Jamea Harris. 

Playing any role in a shooting that leaves a young mother dead before she can raise her 5-year-old son is enough to disqualify someone from an NBA career, but Miller's alleged involvement and the potential consequences of his actions should, without a doubt, remove him from the San Antonio Spurs' draft board.

Miller's NBA future up in the air following his role in tragic shooting

Here is what Detective Brandon Culpepper of the Tuscaloosa Police Department reported - on the night of January 15th, Miller dropped Darius Miles off at a bar in Tuscaloosa. Later that night, Miles and others approached Jamea Harris, her boyfriend Cedric Johnson, and her cousin Asia Humphrey. After what Culpepper described as an "elevated" interaction, Miles walked away from Harris and texted Miller to bring him his gun.

Miller and his teammate Jaden Bradley then drove to Miles' location and blocked the Jeep that Harris, Johnson, and Humphrey were inside from leaving. Detective Culpepper testified that at that point, Miles and Davis got into Miller's car, took the handgun, and exited. Moments later, Davis approached the Jeep and began firing shots through the window, killing Harris.

Per law enforcement testimony, Miles admitted to texting Miller to bring him his gun and said that Davis retrieved it from Miller's vehicle before the shooting.

It is important to note that law enforcement has not charged Miller with a crime. When reporters asked Tuscaloosa Chief Deputy D.A. Paula Whitley why, she responded, "That’s not a question I can answer. There’s nothing we could charge him with (under Alabama law)."

Miller didn't pull the trigger, but it does appear he played a crucial role in escalating a situation that ultimately left a young mother dead. He showed a glaring lack of judgment and disregard for others, repeatedly ignoring opportunities to prevent the shooting. You can't gloss over that context, and if the Spurs are half the organization we all hope they are, they'll immediately ball his name up and throw it in the trash. Call it what you want, but this young man has, in my opinion, no place in the NBA and absolutely no place with the Spurs.

It's a tragic situation, but save your sympathies for the family of Jamea Harris. Whether or not Miller ultimately winds up in the NBA remains to be seen, but one thing's for sure, he should never don the Silver and Black.