Charlotte Hornets forward Nicolas Batum has reportedly suffered a fractured middle finger according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. He will be sidelined for 3-4 weeks, according to Haynes. Charlotte originally announced the injury toward the end of their first game, a win over the Chicago Bulls.
Injury Update: @hornets Nic Batum underwent an x-ray on his left hand which revealed a fracture of his third finger. Further updates will be provided when appropriate. #AllFly
— Charlotte Hornets PR (@HornetsPR) October 24, 2019
Charlotte Hornets forward Nicolas Batum fractured the middle finger on his left hand last night against Chicago and is expected to be sidelined 3 to 4 weeks, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 24, 2019
Batum exited the contest after just 11 minutes and did not attempt a shot. He did grab four rebounds and dished two assists, so it was not a total empty performance. Charlotte was reportedly desperate last season to move on from the 30-year-old Batum and his $25.5 million base salary. Things get even more complicated next season, as Batum will more than likely pick up his player option for $27 million.
While it was unlikely to happen anyway, this injury makes things even more difficult to move on from the ineffective wing. Caleb Martin or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who were both inactive for the first game of the season, could fill the void in the rotation while Batum is on the mend.
