By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Finishing the 2023 NBA Preseason with an injury impacts the early chunk of games in the 2023-24 Regular Season for Frank Ntilikina. The Charlotte Hornets updated his status on Saturday.
Ntilikina, 25, will be sidelined for at least four weeks with a non-displaced fracture of his left tibia.
During the offseason, the French combo guard signed with the Hornets as an unrestricted free agent. He is a veteran of 316 appearances between the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks over the last six seasons.
Per the press release: “The Charlotte Hornets announced today that guard Frank Ntilikina suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left tibia in Charlotte’s preseason game against the Boston Celtics on Thursday, Oct. 19. The injury was confirmed by an MRI on Friday, Oct. 20, and Ntilikina will be reevaluated in four weeks. Updates on his status will be provided as appropriate.
Ntilikina appeared in four preseason contests for the Hornets, averaging 3.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 16.4 minutes per game. The eighth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Ntilikina has suited up for 316 games in six seasons with the New York Knicks (2017-21) and Dallas Mavericks (2021-23), recording 4.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 17.1 minutes per game for his career.”
Players potentially benefiting include French compatriot Theo Maledon. The 22-year-old point guard, inked to a two-way contract, has been dealing with a shoulder injury, preventing him from getting playing time in the Preseason.