The basketball world is starting to agree on one thing about Olivia Miles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
At some point, a hot start stops feeling like a hot start. It starts feeling real.
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That’s where Olivia Miles finds herself just a few months into her WNBA career.
The Minnesota Lynx rookie has gone from intriguing prospect to one of the most talked-about young players in basketball, and the list of people buying into her superstar potential seems to grow every week. The latest voice to join that conversation came from a basketball legend who has seen virtually everything the sport has to offer.
And his message echoed what many fans have already been thinking.
Miles is forcing her way into a bigger conversation
Miles entered the WNBA with high expectations after starring at TCU, but even those expectations may have been too low. The No. 2 overall pick has been one of the driving forces behind Minnesota’s league-best 13-4 start, averaging 18.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
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Those numbers alone are impressive. What’s been even more remarkable is how comfortable she looks doing it. Miles doesn’t play like someone learning the league. She plays like someone trying to take it over.
Whether she’s creating for teammates, knocking down big shots or controlling the pace of a game, the rookie has consistently looked like one of the Lynx’s most important players.
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A basketball legend says what many fans already believe
That reality was reinforced Sunday when NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett shared a strong opinion on social media.
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“Olivia Miles is one of the best rookies in ALL of basketball… @nba or @wnba.”
Coming from Garnett, that’s not a throwaway compliment. The former MVP, NBA champion and Minnesota icon has spent decades around elite talent. For him to place Miles in that conversation this early speaks volumes about the impression she has made around the basketball world.
More importantly, it’s a statement that feels increasingly difficult to dispute.
Rookie of the Year may not be the only conversation
Miles has already established herself as the favorite in many Rookie of the Year discussions. The bigger question now may be how high her ceiling actually is.
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Earlier this season, she set a WNBA rookie record by making eight 3-pointers in a game, showcasing the type of offensive firepower that can change a franchise. Combined with her playmaking instincts and confidence, she has quickly become one of the league’s must-watch players.
The Lynx expected Miles to help immediately. Few could have predicted she would become one of the faces of the league’s next generation this quickly.
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The hype is starting to look justified
Every breakout player reaches a point where praise stops sounding exaggerated. Miles appears to have reached that point. The numbers are there. The wins are there. The highlights are there. Now the endorsements from some of basketball’s most respected figures are arriving, too.
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That’s why the basketball world seems to be reaching the same conclusion. Olivia Miles isn’t just having a great rookie season. She’s looking like the next superstar.
