Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Saturday’s 125-119 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season, reports Chris Haynes.
Williams suffered the injury during the fourth quarter while planting his right leg, driving to the basket and falling to the floor. He attempted to walk to the bench afterward but was clearly hobbled and needed assistance off the court. An MRI exam revealed the tear.
The Charlotte native was in his second season with the Hornets after being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks. He was in the second year of a four-year, $54 million contract. In 16 games this season (seven starts). Williams averaged 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 30 minutes. He was shooting 37% on 3-pointers as well.
During his six NBA seasons, Williams has averaged 7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 38% on 3s as a relatively undersized big man for the Boston Celtics, Mavericks and Hornets. He was Boston’s first-round pick (No. 22 overall) out of Tennessee in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Rookie Tidjane Salaün and Moussa Diabate are expected to take most of Williams’ minutes at power forward for the rest of the season.
Appreciate all the love and support from those who have reached out. Time to goto work it’s all we can do🤙🏽
— Grant Williams (@Grant2Will) November 24, 2024
Williams’ injury is the latest of several that the Hornets have dealt with in their frontcourt. Centers Mark Williams (foot strain) and Nick Richards (fractured rib) have played little this season, while Miles Bridges missed two weeks with a bone bruise in his right knee.
Those injuries have contributed to Charlotte’s 6-10 start, which has them in 11th place in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the Southeast Division. Young stars LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller are combining for nearly 50 points per game in the backcourt. Ball scored 50 points in Saturday’s defeat.
