Alabama Professional Athletes

It was a rough week for the Crimson Tide's NBA contingent — one dealing with the emotional fallout of a blockbuster trade, the other out of a job entirely.

Miller Feeling the LaMelo Void in Charlotte

Brandon Miller isn't hiding how he feels about losing his running mate. The Charlotte Hornets forward opened up this week about LaMelo Ball's trade away from the organization, admitting it's been tough to process. Miller, who has operated alongside Ball since entering the league, now faces the prospect of a reshuffled roster and a new identity in Charlotte without its most electric offensive weapon.

Miller's candor says something about how significant Ball was to the Hornets' core — and how much uncertainty now hangs over Charlotte's rebuild. For the former Alabama standout, it's a reset moment: he's one of the few recognizable pieces still in place, and whether the franchise leans into him as its offensive anchor will define his trajectory heading into next season. The opportunity is real, but so is the pressure.

Davison Waived by Houston

The news was starker for JD Davison. The Rockets waived the Alabama point guard this week, ending his tenure in Houston and leaving him without an NBA home heading into the 2026-27 season.

Davison, who bounced between the G League and the active roster during his time with the Rockets, now enters free agency in search of his next opportunity. At 22, he still has time on his side, but the waiver is a reminder of how thin the margin is for young guards trying to carve out a permanent roster spot in a loaded league. Houston, building around a young core of its own, clearly didn't see a path forward for him in their plans.

Whether Davison lands a training camp invite or pursues opportunities overseas remains to be seen, but his Alabama pedigree and athleticism give him tools to work with.

The Bigger Picture for Bama's NBA Cohort

The week serves as a microcosm of the broader Alabama NBA story. The program has pushed an impressive number of players into professional basketball, but the league is unforgiving — roster spots evaporate overnight, and even players with genuine upside can find themselves on the outside looking in. Miller's situation is more stable, but it's no less uncertain given the organizational turbulence in Charlotte. Davison's is more urgent.

Both players will have chances to answer the moment. For now, the offseason isn't being kind to the Tide's NBA alumni.

It was a rough week for Crimson Tide alumni across the NBA, with Brandon Miller absorbing the emotional fallout of a blockbuster trade and JD Davison losing his roster spot entirely.

Miller Adjusts to Life Without LaMelo

Brandon Miller isn't hiding how he feels about Charlotte's new reality. The former Alabama forward admitted it's been tough to process LaMelo Ball's trade away from the Hornets — a move that reshapes the entire identity of a franchise Miller has called home since being drafted third overall in 2023.

Ball was the engine of Charlotte's offense and, frankly, its brightest marketing asset. For Miller, who was developing his game alongside one of the league's most electric passers, the departure carries real on-court consequences. Fewer creation opportunities, a larger offensive burden, and a franchise now pivoting into a harder-to-define direction — none of that is easy to sit with heading into a new season.

Miller's candor is notable. Young players often deflect when asked about organizational decisions, but his willingness to acknowledge the difficulty signals both his investment in the team's success and the genuine disruption Ball's exit creates. Whether the Hornets use this moment to accelerate Miller's role as their new centerpiece — or surround him with a new co-star — will define much of what Charlotte looks like in 2026–27.

Davison Waived by Houston

Meanwhile, JD Davison's time with the Rockets has come to an end. Houston waived the Alabama product, closing the door on what had been a developmental chapter for the 2022 second-round pick.

Davison, a high-upside prospect coming out of Tuscaloosa, never quite carved out consistent NBA minutes in Houston's backcourt. The Rockets, one of the league's youngest and most talent-rich rosters, didn't have the runway to offer a player still searching for his footing — and the waiver makes that math explicit.

At 22, Davison isn't a finished product. He brings athleticism and defensive instincts that will attract interest, and a stint with another organization — whether via a new contract, a two-way deal, or time in the G League — remains a realistic next step. But for now, his NBA path has hit a detour.

The Bigger Picture

Two Alabama alumni, two very different flavors of roster turbulence. Miller's situation is one of adaptation and opportunity — a chance to step fully into stardom if Charlotte builds around him correctly. Davison's is a reset, a reminder of how thin the margin is for young guards trying to stick in a league with no shortage of playmaking talent.

The Crimson Tide pipeline into the NBA remains active — with names like Collin Sexton (Lakers), Herbert Jones (Pelicans), and Mark Sears (Bucks) holding roster spots across the league — but this week belonged to the alumni navigating the harder side of professional basketball.