The Hornets downgraded Grant Williams from day-to-day to out on Tuesday afternoon with a right hamstring injury. He will miss Wednesday's season opener at the Nets, with an expected return listed for Friday, Oct. 23.
What happened
The Hornets listed Grant Williams as out on Tuesday's injury report, filed at 4:44 PM ET, with a right hamstring injury. He had been day-to-day since Sept. 25, when the team upgraded him from out on the same day. The report's comment was direct: Williams (hamstring) is out for Wednesday's season opener versus the Nets. The report lists an expected return of Oct. 23. No further detail on the injury was announced. Williams, a 27-year-old forward, has now spent nearly a month on the report with the same hamstring issue.
What it means for the Hornets
Charlotte opens the 2026-27 season at the Nets on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET, so Williams will miss the first game of the year. Last season he played 36 games and averaged 7.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.8 minutes. Without him, the frontcourt minutes have gone to Moussa Diabate at 26.0 per game and Ryan Kalkbrenner at 21.4, with Miles Bridges logging 31.0 and Brandon Miller 30.3. The depth is thin, though. Kon Knueppel is also out with a left hamstring injury, Coby White is out with a left calf, and Diabate is day-to-day with a right elbow.
What to watch
The expected return date is Oct. 23, two days after the opener, but that is a projection and not a confirmed game. The next injury report before Wednesday's tip at Brooklyn will settle whether anything changes. Also worth tracking is the status of Grayson Allen, Diabate and Kylan Boswell, all day-to-day, which will shape who covers the forward minutes behind Bridges and Miller if Williams misses more than one game.
Is Grant Williams playing at the Nets on Wednesday?
No. The injury report lists him as out for Wednesday's season opener at the Nets with a right hamstring injury.
When will Grant Williams be back?
The injury report lists an expected return of Oct. 23. No specific game has been confirmed, so his status will depend on the next report.