Don’t expect to see Brandon Miller in a uniform for a second straight game.
But that still beats the alternative.
The Charlotte Hornets’ rising star has been diagnosed with a left shoulder subluxation and will be evaluated after the conclusion of the road trip, which wraps up in Miami on Tuesday. That means Miller won’t be available for the Hornets’ matchup with the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center and his status remains unclear leading into Charlotte’s three-game homestand versus Orlando, Minnesota and Utah.
Considering how things appeared when Miller exited Saturday night’s loss, eliciting concerns during the postgame from coach Charles Lee, it’s a positive development for the Hornets.
Miller got injured early in the second quarter when he was guarding Philadelphia’s Quentin Grimes, The Observer learned. Miller tried to fight through a screen and extended his left arm almost simultaneously while slipping on his left foot.
He exited and didn’t return, but Lee said Miller felt better prior to Sunday’s win in Washington after receiving some treatment. Unlike following the loss in Philadelphia, the third-year swingman was in the Hornets’ locker room postgame in Washington and seemed to be in good spirits, joking with his teammates — including LaMelo Ball, who posted his first triple-double in nearly two years.
Miller’s absence has provided more playing time for Kon Knueppel as well as Sion James. The rookies have taken advantage of their respective minutes.
Their contributions have helped the Hornets enter the second week of the season tied for the most points per game at 136.6, which matches the output of the Denver Nuggets. Knueppel is posting 15 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, nailing 57.6% of his 3-pointers, and James is filling in as a reserve nicely, contributing 8.3 points and two rebounds and connecting on 71.4% beyond the 3-point arc.
This story was originally published October 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM.