NBA
Hornets’ Grant Williams Suffers Season-Ending ACL, Meniscus Tears
Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams sustained season-ending tears to the ACL, meniscus, and associated ligaments in his right knee, sources informed ESPN’s Shams Charania on Sunday.
Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams was driving the ball to the paint, bumped into Brook Lopez, and lost his footing
Williams suffered the injuries late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 125-119 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, when he was driving to the basket with just under four minutes remaining.
Williams was driving the ball to the paint and then bumped into Milwaukee center Brook Lopez, lost his footing, and went down to the floor, immediately grabbing his knee in pain.
OFFICIAL: MRI results on forward Grant Williams revealed a preliminary diagnosis of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his right knee.
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) November 24, 2024
The Hornets said Sunday that a preliminary diagnosis revealed an ACL tear, and Williams would be out indefinitely. Williams has served as a veteran leader for LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges.
In a postgame interview with FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, first-year head coach Charles Lee briefly spoke on the injury and added that “all our prayers are with Grant.”
“It’s just been diagnosed right now as a knee injury. We’ll continue to get some imaging and some evaluations,” he said then. “The most important thing is that all of our prayers are with Grant and hoping that some of the news comes back as good as possible.”
Charlotte acquired Williams from the Dallas Mavericks in February
In 16 games (seven starts) this season, Williams averaged 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 29.9 minutes per contest while shooting 43.9% from the floor, 36.5% from 3-point range, and 83.8% at the free throw line.
The 6-foot-6 Williams, who turns 26 on Nov. 30, scored a season-high 17 points in a 138-133 win over the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 30 and in a 107-105 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 10.
Williams joined Charlotte in a trade deadline deal from the Dallas Mavericks last season.
In addition to trading Williams, the Mavs sent Seth Curry and a 2027 first-round draft pick to the Hornets for P.J. Washington, a 2024 second-round draft pick, and a 2028 second-rounder.
Charlotte has now lost five of its last seven and will host the Orlando Magic on Monday.