Hornets’ Brandon Miller Has Torn Wrist Ligament, Sidelined Indefinitely

Brandon Miller’s promising sophomore season has taken a serious hit. The forward, who had been a bright spot for the Hornets, was ruled out indefinitely after an MRI revealed he has a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist.Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets, NBA

Initially, the injury was called a sprain, but the diagnosis is far more serious, and while the Hornets have not provided a specific timeline for recovery, this type of injury typically requires surgery and can lead to months of rehabilitation.

Notable players like Kenrich Williams, Khris Middleton, and Jaylen Brown have all undergone similar procedures in recent years, underscoring just how significant this setback is for Miller.

Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 draft, had been having an excellent campaign, averaging 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 27 games.

His shooting splits of .403/.355/.861 were a testament to his growth after a strong rookie season, where he finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.

It’s a tough break for both Miller and the Hornets, who had just started to get their top four scorers — Miller, LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Mark Williams — healthy together for the first time all season. The team had shown real promise with this lineup, going 2-2 in their last four games with a +14.5 net rating.

With Miller now sidelined, Nick Smith Jr. stepped into the starting lineup and had a solid outing, scoring 15 points in 26 minutes in Friday’s win over Chicago. Smith will likely continue to get chances to fill Miller’s role in the starting five.

Seth Curry, who has also filled in for Miller at times this season, made his return to the rotation on Friday and will likely see increased minutes as the Hornets adjust to this latest blow. 

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