The Hornets’ injury woes deepened Friday when Brandon Miller left the Boston game in the second quarter with right groin soreness. He joins a list that already features Kon Knueppel (left hamstring strain), Grant Williams (right hamstring strain), Moussa Diabate (right quadriceps tendinopathy) and Dennis Schröder (left thigh soreness).
Coach Charles Lee knows cuts are part of NBA life and will shuffle lineups to stay competitive. In my view, his willingness to adapt keeps the club afloat, writes Roderick Boone on Substack.
“Yeah, I love it,” Lee said. “I’m having a blast. I embrace the challenge, and so does our staff and players. They get extra minutes and bigger roles. No excuses, we remind them. I once worked for a man in Boston—Coach Joe Mazzulla—who said nobody cares about injuries; you just keep trucking and compete. Our identity is set, and anyone who steps on the floor must play to it.”
Lee declined to comment on how serious Miller’s issue is or how long he’ll miss.
“I saw him limp a few plays, he said he was fine, then asked for a sub,” Lee told reporters. “We’ll evaluate him over the weekend and have more info then.”
Boone supplies additional details from Charlotte:
- Knueppel pulled a left hamstring strain six minutes into his season debut on Wednesday, after missing the early season with the same problem. Lee says the Hornets followed proper protocols, noting the wing logged four “get‑ready” games with staff before returning. Performance staff cleared him after confirming he could handle contact. The exact layoff remains unknown. “I’m actually looking forward to that answer soon,” Lee added. “We’re gathering data, but it may take a bit to set a correct timeline for Kon.”
- Williams worked with the G‑League squad on Thursday and absorbed contact without issue. Lee mentioned the veteran still has recovery milestones, yet clearance is near. League sources tell Boone his comeback could arrive within a week.
- Both Williams and Knueppel hurt themselves during September workouts before camp, prompting Lee to rethink the summer program. “We need to evaluate what we do in the off‑season and how best to prepare these guys,” he said. “They’re obsessive about daily improvement, which is great, but we must set them up to limit these injuries.” Will the new regimen curb future setbacks?