Leonard Miller (basketball)

Last updated

Leonard Miller
No. 33–Minnesota Timberwolves
Position Small forward
League NBA
Personal information
Born (2003-11-26) November 26, 2003 (age 21)
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school Bill Crothers Secondary School
(Markham, Ontario)
NBA draft 2023: 2nd round, 33rd overall pick
Selected by the San Antonio Spurs
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–2023 NBA G League Ignite
2023–present Minnesota Timberwolves
2023–2024 →Iowa Wolves
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2019 Brazil Team

Leonard Miller (born November 26, 2003) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He previously played for the NBA G League Ignite.

Contents

Early life and high school career

Leonard Miller was born in Scarborough, Ontario, and played basketball, volleyball and golf during his childhood. [1] He played basketball for Bill Crothers Secondary School in Markham, Ontario, for grade 9 from 2017 to 2018 [2] and transferred to Thornlea Secondary School in Thornhill, Ontario, for grade 10, where he helped the team win the National Junior Circuit title in March 2019. [3] Miller transferred to Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah, to face stronger competition but received limiting playing time. He transferred to Victory Rock Prep in Bradenton, Florida, before missing several months with a broken right wrist in November 2020 that required surgery. [4] Miller opted to play a postgraduate season at Fort Erie International Academy in Fort Erie, Ontario after growing 6-4 guard to 6-10 guard/wing over an 18 month period , and had no college offers at the time he made the decision. [5] He became the team's star player and received over 25 offers from college programs. Miller led Fort Erie to an Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association title and was named league most valuable player. [4] He was selected to play for the World Team in the Nike Hoop Summit. [6] On April 23, 2022, he declared for the 2022 NBA draft. [7] On June 13, 2022, he withdrew from the draft and decided to play with the NBA G League Ignite for the next season. [8]

Recruiting

Miller was considered a five-star recruit by Rivals and was ranked as the 2nd ranked prospect on On3 despite playing in Canada with On3 ranking him first with the highest upside in the recruiting class . [9] On May 31, 2022, he announced that he would pursue professional options instead of playing college basketball. [10]

Professional career

NBA G League Ignite (2022–2023)

On September 7, 2022, Miller signed a contract with the NBA G League Ignite. [11] He was named to the G League's inaugural Next Up Game for the 2022–23 season. [12]

Minnesota Timberwolves / Iowa Wolves (2023–present)

Miller was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NBA draft with the 33rd overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs. He was then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night. He made his summer league debut in Las Vegas on July 7, 2023. [13] The Timberwolves announced they had signed Miller to a contract on July 9 of that year. [14] He was assigned to the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League for the start of the 2023–24 G League season.

National team career

Miller won a silver medal with Canada at the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Brazil, averaging 4.2 points per game. [15]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

NBA

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2023–24 Minnesota 1703.1.650.400.5001.2.5.1.11.7
Career1703.1.650.400.5001.2.5.1.11.7

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2024 Minnesota 302.3.000.000—1.3.0.0.0.0
Career302.3.000.000—1.3.0.0.0.0

NBA G League

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2022–23 NBA G League 141128.1.500.275.7938.61.61.2.615.1
2023–24 Iowa 121126.7.528.327.9336.41.9.8.916.2
Career262227.4.513.305.8417.61.71.0.815.6

Personal life

Miller's older brother, Emanuel, played college basketball for Texas A&M and TCU and currently plays professionally for the Texas Legends. [7]

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References

  1. ↑ "Leonard Miller". Pro Insight. November 23, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  2. ↑ Press, Canadian. “Canada’s Miller Continues Carving out Name with G League Ignite as Eyes Set on NBA.” Rdnewsnow.Com, 10 Feb. 2023, rdnewsnow.com/2023/02/10/canadas-miller-continues-carving-out-name-with-g-league-ignite-as-eyes-set-on-nba/.
  3. ↑ Mikre, Mickias (March 6, 2019). "National Jr. Circuit Championships Recap – Thornlea crowned as 2019 Champions". North Pole Hoops. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Osman, Libaan (May 27, 2022). "How Scarborough's Leonard Miller became this year's most intriguing NBA draft prospect". Toronto Star . Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  5. ↑ Kalbrosky, Bryan (May 6, 2022). "Leonard Miller is suddenly the most intriguing NBA draft prospect, but it's what he does next that matters most". For The Win. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  6. ↑ Pilgrim, Jack (April 6, 2022). "Leonard Miller among top participants at Nike Hoop Summit". On3. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Backus, Will (April 23, 2022). "Leonard Miller, uncommitted prospect in 2022 class, declares for NBA Draft". 247Sports . Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Miller opts for G League Ignite instead of draft". ESPN.com. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Leonard Miller - Recruiting Profile". www.on3.com. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  10. ↑ Siegel, Brett (May 31, 2022). "Potential First-Round Pick Leonard Miller To Skip College, Play Professionally". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Mojave King, Leonard Miller officially signs contracts with G League Ignite". September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Wolves' Garza And Ignite's Henderson Named Captains For NBA G League Next Up Game". NBA G League. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  13. ↑ Chris Schad (July 8, 2023). "Leonard Miller, Josh Minott look like budding stars in Timberwolves' summer league opener - Sports Illustrated Minnesota Sports, News, Analysis, and More". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Timberwolves Sign Leonard Miller". NBA.com. NBA. July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Leonard Miller (CAN)'s profile – FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2019". FIBA . Retrieved June 11, 2022.
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