Charlotte Hornets Lose Former 1st-Round Pick To Broken Leg

The Charlotte Hornets backcourt remains jinxed again this season, it appears. After missing LaMelo Ball for 46 games last season to injury, they'll have to do without new acquisition Frank Ntilikina for at least four weeks. 

OFFICIAL: Guard Frank Ntilikina suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left tibia in our preseason game against the Boston Celtics.

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) October 21, 2023

Ntilikina has suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left tibia. 

Granted, his impact certainly isn't that of Ball's, but his defense and work off the bench will be missed.  

Frank Ntilikina, good player pic.twitter.com/jkpF2Lr5hg

— Frank Ntilikina Fan (@Ntilikina11Fan) October 19, 2023

The incident occurred in a preseason game against the Boston Celtics, when Ntilikina clipped a defender's foot while landing without being aware of his landing spot.

Frank Ntilikina Knee Hyperextension

Boston player slips at push off

Frank focused on finishing task with no visual input to ground & his toe box clips defenders foot

This can easily alter the timing/coordinative efforts of the limb at landing @bballbreakdown pic.twitter.com/6RYBdsOGDj

— BBiomechanics (@BBiomechanics) October 20, 2023

The Hornets signed Ntilikina to a one-year deal this summer. 

He was drafted 8th overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the New York Knicks and spent four seasons in the Big Apple. He signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2021 and spent his last two seasons there. 

In 316 career games, the 25-year-old guard has averages of 4.8 points and 2.2 assists in 17 minutes of floor time per night. 

 Photo: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports