Injuries in the National Basketball Association are a hot topic this week. According to Ali Jawad of Sports Illustrated on Tuesday, Charlotte Hornets small forward Brandon Miller of Antioch, Tennessee, is out for the remainder of the season with wrist surgery, and according to Joseph Luca Casciaro of The Score on Wednesday, Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson of Wausau, Wisconsin, is out for the remainder of the season with a torn labrum.
Miller actually tore a ligament in his wrist according to ESPN. The injury occurred during the Hornets game against the Utah Jazz on January 15, a 117-112 Hornets win over the Utah Jazz.
In 27 games this season, Miller averaged 21 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, and 1.1 steals per game, with a field goal percentage of .403, three point percentage of .355 and free throw percentage of .861. One of Miller’s most memorable games this season came on November 6, when Miller became the first player of the season to record a buzzer beater. He helped the Hornets beat the Detroit Pistons 108-107 with a game-winning field goal at the rim.
Johnson tore his labrum this past Thursday in a 122-119 Hawks loss to the Toronto Raptors. In 2024-25, Johnson averaged a double double (18,9 points per game and 10 rebounds per game). He was also averaging five assists per game, 1.6 steals per game, and one block per game, with a field goal percentage of .500, three point percentage of .312 and a free throw percentage of .746.
The Hawks are ice cold at the moment as they have lost six straight games. They are ninth in the Eastern Conference, and three games ahead of Philadelphia 76ers for a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament. The Hornets have the second worst record in the East.
