White's Calf Strain Sidelines Him for Hornets' Entire Preseason

Charlotte's injury troubles are piling up before the season even begins. Guard Coby White has been diagnosed with a left calf strain suffered in training camp, and the Hornets announced on October 5 that the 26-year-old will miss the entire preseason, with further updates to come as appropriate.

White is now the second projected starter and third rotation player the Hornets have lost to a soft-tissue injury this fall. Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams both injured hamstrings during offseason workouts and are expected to be re-evaluated during the first week of the regular season. Two-way player Kylan Boswell is also sidelined with a right knee injury but is expected to resume basketball activities ahead of the G League season in late October.

The timing is especially frustrating given White's summer. The Hornets re-signed him as an unrestricted free agent to a three-year, $74 million contract after acquiring him from Chicago in February. Last season he averaged 17.4 points, 4.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 25.0 minutes per game, though calf trouble limited him to a career-low 50 appearances. Charlotte can only hope this latest strain is a precautionary absence rather than the start of another campaign spent shorthanded.