Watching the Future unfold.

SLAM SOUTH: MEN’S SPORTS MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2025 ISSUE

Cover Feature: “The Blueprint of Buzz City”

Written by Carolie Carson | Senior Editor, SLAM South

BOL & BRANDON: THE FUTURE IS NOW

They didn’t just pose for a photo. They made a statement.

Draped in teal with the “HORNETS” lettering stitched across their chests, Bol Bol and Brandon Miller stand shoulder-to-shoulder in a photo that could one day be seen as the turning point in Charlotte basketball history.

The vibe? Unapologetically iconic.

The energy? Shaq and Kobe with a southern drawl.

🔥

The New Duo of the South

This isn’t your typical NBA bromance.

Brandon Miller, the icy-eyed assassin from Alabama, has assumed full command of the franchise. His game is maturing rapidly: part KD, part Paul George, all killer. He’s the face, the voice, and the motor of Buzz City — and the league is finally starting to take notice.

Behind him? A towering shadow of promise: Bol Bol — the 7-foot-3 unicorn reborn. After years of being passed around like a curiosity, he’s finally found a system that says “be great — your way.”

“Bol’s like a jazz solo,” Coach Charles Lee tells SLAM South.

“Unpredictable, raw, elegant. Brandon? He’s the drumline. Steady, explosive, surgical. Together, they’re building a new sound in Charlotte.”

📸

The Photo That Changed the Narrative

In this SLAM exclusive, the now-viral image of Bol’s hand on Miller’s shoulder, the two men locked into the lens, isn’t just branding — it’s blueprint.

The photographer called it “accidental electricity.”

The players?

They just call it “the standard.”

“We’re not here for All-Star nods,” Miller said at the shoot. “We’re here to own the East.”

Bol followed up with a smirk: “This ain’t no highlight reel. It’s real.”

🧠

Mentally Locked In

Sources inside the locker room say the two are inseparable when it matters: film sessions, early gym work, and defensive walk-throughs.

Brandon is bringing the MJ intensity, while Bol is bringing a Duncan-esque poise. They’re both quiet in interviews, but loud on the court.

“They don’t say much,” veteran De’Anthony Melton said. “But you feel their presence. Every practice. Every possession.”

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Projected Impact: 2025–26 Season

Player	PPG	RPG	BPG	3PT%
Brandon Miller	25.8	6.5	1.1	41%
Bol Bol	17.3	8.9	2.4	36%

If those numbers hold, the Hornets could be fielding the most dangerous inside-out duo under 25 in the entire NBA.

🏀

“We’re Not Here to Fit In”

This new Hornets team doesn’t care about your power rankings, your tweets, or your disrespect.

They care about building something lasting.

And in this now-iconic photo — Brandon Miller with the ball, Bol Bol looming behind him — you can see it:

The Blueprint.

Carved not from hype, but hunger.

🖋️ Written by Carolie Carson, Senior Editor of SLAM South

📲 Follow @CarolieCarsonSLAM for exclusive interviews and Hornets coverage all season.