{"id":162684,"date":"2025-10-14T06:35:40","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T10:35:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=162684"},"modified":"2025-10-14T06:35:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T10:35:40","slug":"hornets-rookie-ryan-kalkbrenner-could-carve-significant-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/10\/14\/hornets-rookie-ryan-kalkbrenner-could-carve-significant-role\/","title":{"rendered":"Hornets Rookie Could Carve Out Significant Role"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite improving their roster through shrewd trades and a solid draft class<\/a>, the Charlotte Hornets faced scrutiny this offseason. This stemmed from their lack of depth at the center position<\/a>, a problem that was created when they traded both Mark Williams<\/a> and Jusuf Nurkic<\/a> in the summer. With Moussa Diabat\u00e9<\/a>\u00a0the only center on the roster at one point, Charlotte shored up the position by adding veteran Mason Plumlee<\/a> and drafting rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With Plumlee being added for depth and leadership, Kalkbrenner will have a real chance to earn minutes as the main backup and could ultimately take the starting job if he plays well. Viewed as a late first-round to early second-round pick, Charlotte did well to land Kalkbrenner with the 34th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 23-year-old offers more experience than most college players, having used an extra year of eligibility granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He played in five total collegiate seasons, all at Creighton.<\/p>\n

Hornets Rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner Could Start At Center<\/h2>\n

Kalkbrenner improved in each season with the Blue Jays, averaging 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game as a senior. That season, he led the Big East in rebounds per game, blocks per game and field-goal percentage (.653). His scoring average ranked second in the conference, trailing only former Villanova forward Eric Dixon<\/a>. Of note, Dixon the Hornets signed Dixon to an Exhibit 10 contract<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n

By the end of his collegiate career, Kalkbrenner took home four (consecutive) Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards. Coming to a team that ranked tied for 19th in blocks per game, his great interior defense will be welcomed. In fact, after a respectable Summer League showing, he’s been producing in the preseason as well. In three games, he’s averaging 11.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per contest.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Kalkbrenner doing what he\u2019s best at, being big\u2026<\/p>\n

7\u20191 w\/o shoes, 7\u20197 wingspan. Great cleanup work on the glass, with putbacks & tap outs. Nice recovery pin-block. Screening, slipping, diving, & dunking. Working the handoff game. Just out there doing competent big-man stuff. pic.twitter.com\/CEYM1LgT8s<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA University (@NBA_University) October 12, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n