The Charlotte Hornets’ preseason is already getting thin, and now Coby White is the latest name to land on the injury list.
White has been ruled out for the preseason with a calf injury, joining Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams, who were already expected to miss the exhibition schedule with hamstring injuries. Charlotte shared the update in a late Monday afternoon X post rather than through a formal press release, a move that suggests the team is treating White’s issue as a short-term setback rather than something more serious.
Still, it’s a notable hit. White is expected to be a key piece for Charlotte once the games count, and the Hornets were hoping to use the preseason to get him comfortable running the offense and building chemistry with Brandon Miller, Naz Reid, and Moussa Diabate. Those reps won’t happen now.
The team’s caution makes sense, though. Preseason is the time to be careful with even minor injuries, and Charlotte appears unwilling to take any unnecessary risks with White, Knueppel, or Williams in what are essentially tune-up games.
White’s role last season showed why he matters. In 21 games with the Hornets, he averaged 15.6 points, 3.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game off the bench. Charlotte does not want him to be a straight replacement for the outgoing LaMelo Ball, but it does need him to serve as the offense’s primary ball handler and help get the team’s system moving early in possessions.
Charlotte opens the regular season in Brooklyn on October 22nd, and White’s status between now and then will be worth watching.
His absence also opens the door for more preseason run for Christian Anderson Jr. With White and Kylan Boswell Jr. both ruled out, Anderson should see plenty of action, and Dennis Schroder is now the likeliest candidate to start at point guard with Anderson Jr. behind him.
That could be valuable development time for the rookie. The preseason may not be known for its intensity, but giving Anderson live reps should help both him and the Hornets figure out what’s needed before he’s asked to contribute in regular-season games this year.
In Other News...
Hornets Already Have A Point Guard Problem After Moving LaMelo
Moving on from LaMelo Ball was always going to reshape the Hornets backcourt, and the early returns have only made the point guard picture look more unsettled. Charlotte tried to patch things up by re-signing Coby White, drafting Christian Anderson Jr. and bringing in Dennis Schrder, a group that was supposed to keep the position steady while the franchise moved into its next phase.
Instead, the preseason has already brought more questions than answers. Anderson struggled in Summer League and is dealing with an injury, while White is sidelined with a calf issue and will miss preseason games, leaving Charlotte thin at the spot before the games even count. Ball, meanwhile, opened his Minnesota preseason looking comfortable in his new uniform, which only sharpens the contrast for Hornets fans still waiting to see whether the team's next answer at point guard is actually in place. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Miller Injury Creates An Early Hornets Concern
Brandon Millers preseason has already hit a small snag for the Hornets, with the second-year wing dealing with a shin contusion he picked up in practice. Charlotte has been taking the cautious route, keeping him day-to-day as the team works through the opening weeks of exhibition play and prepares for its next preseason test against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Millers absence from the recent game against the Brooklyn Nets added a little more early-season concern, especially for a player whose development remains central to Charlottes plans. There is already outside buzz about a possible long-term extension down the road, but for now the Hornets are focused on getting Miller back on the floor and making sure a preseason bump does not linger. [Read more 🡒]
Naz Reid Already Feels Like A Huge Part Of Charlottes Reset
Before Charlottes first preseason game against Brooklyn, Charles Lee was already talking about Naz Reid like a player who can help steady the Hornets new direction. The big man arrived from Minnesota as part of the LaMelo Ball trade, and his first taste of a Charlotte uniform offered a quick glimpse of why the team wanted him in the mix as it starts over with a reshaped roster.
Reid wasted little time showing he can bring scoring and activity in short bursts, and that matters for a Hornets group still sorting out how its pieces fit together around young talent such as Miller and Knueppel. With the season just getting underway, Charlotte is trying to establish roles and identity, and Reids early return has at least given the coaching staff one more reason to believe the reset can take hold sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]