Sources: Charlotte’s Nicolas Batum to miss 8-to-12 weeks because of elbow injury
Charlotte Hornets forward Nicolas Batum has a torn ligament in his left elbow and is expected to miss eight-to-12 weeks, league sources told The Vertical.
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Batum suffered the injury in the Hornets’ preseason game on Wednesday night and had tests Thursday that confirmed the tear in the elbow. Batum is expected to receive second opinions soon to determine whether he will undergo surgery, league sources said.
Batum, 28, is a key component to the Hornets as a 6-foot-8 forward capable of scoring, facilitating and defending. Batum averaged 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 77 games for Charlotte last season.
Batum joined the Hornets in a trade from Portland in 2015 and quickly established himself as a trusted player for coach Steve Clifford. Batum signed a five-year, $120 million deal to stay with the Hornets in 2016.
Batum was the No. 25 overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft out of France.
