Charlotte Hornets fans are probably waiting for updates about Brandon Miller, who, unfortunately, saw his 2024-25 campaign end prematurely because of a torn ligament in his right wrist. In early April, he showed good progress in his recovery, appearing without a cast on his arm and using a brace instead.
Miller was purportedly seen in public recently somewhere in South Carolina. The man in the video does look like the Hornets' rising star, and what stood out was that he was no longer wearing a brace.
🚗 : Brandon Miller spotted at a Car Pit in South Carolina. pic.twitter.com/gULAeSWOtg
— 🍒 (@igotnftsmedia) June 8, 2025
It's unclear if he removed the brace temporarily or if he's even allowed to take it off even when he's not working out or rehabbing. Hopefully, the injured wrist is on track or projects early to heal completely. That way, Miller wouldn't have to miss the earlier parts of the 2025-26 regular season.
In fact, the ideal scenario would be for him to participate in training camp and acclimate himself to playing with whoever ends up being on the roster by late October. The Hornets couldn't say how long the 22-year-old swingman would be out when he had to undergo surgery back in January to address the torn scapholunate ligament in his wrist. They still haven't provided a definitive timetable for his return, which is understandable, given how rare his injury has occurred among NBA players.
Hornets have to play it safe with Miller
Considering the state of the franchise, Charlotte cannot afford to rush its cornerstone's return to full basketball activities. The 2024-25 campaign has demonstrated how vital Miller is to the Hornets' aspiration to be a playoff contender. Without his nightly contribution of 21.0 points and 3.6 assists per game, the squad found it even more incredibly tough to put together a respectable offense on the hardwood floor.
If they take shortcuts in Miller's recovery, things could backfire for the young stud and Buzz City. There have been some instances in the NBA where players hastened their comeback, only to make matters worse. Kevin Durant's attempt at helping the Golden State Warriors' championship pursuit in the 2019 playoffs comes to mind.
Still, it could be a precarious situation for the Hornets if Miller can't join team activities before the regular season commences. The missed opportunity to build chemistry and learn his teammates' tendencies on the court well before the meaningful games start. A silver lining, though, is that the Tennessee native has displayed confidence beyond his years. He just has to back it up with a commitment to get his body in good shape and keep it healthy as much as possible.