Brandon Miller’s breakout season with the Hornets has hit a major setback. The promising young forward is out indefinitely with a torn ligament in his right wrist, the team announced Friday.
The injury happened during Wednesday’s win against Utah, though it’s not clear exactly when. What’s remarkable is that Miller still managed to drop 20 points in 33 minutes of play that night.
“That definitely hurts,” teammate LaMelo Ball said. “I was in the same kind of situation my rookie year. I know how he feels, we just always have his back.”
Miller’s absence is a huge blow for Charlotte. The 21-year-old has been lighting it up this season, averaging 21 points per game and showing why the Hornets picked him second overall in last year’s draft.
Nick Smith Jr. stepped into Miller’s starting spot against the Bulls, but coach Charles Lee will likely mix things up game-to-game to fill the void.
It’s been a tough road for Miller health-wise. He’s only played in 27 games this season, though when he’s been on the court, he’s been spectacular. Just ask the Detroit Pistons – Miller torched them for a career-high 38 points back in November, drilling 8 three-pointers in the process.
His overall NBA numbers are pretty impressive for such a young player: 18.3 points per game across his first 101 games, shooting a solid 43% from the field. No wonder he finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and made the Rising Stars game.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the struggling Hornets. They’re sitting at 10-28, fifth-worst in the league, and now they’ve lost their most exciting young scorer.
There’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon though. The Hornets could string together three straight wins for the first time this season if they can beat Dallas on Monday. ESPN gives them a fighting chance, putting their odds at 46%.
But without Miller’s firepower, they’ll need someone else to step up big time.
