Charlotte Hornets Rookie Watch - Ryan Kalkbrenner

Kon Knueppel may be the focal point of the Charlotte Hornets' 2025-26 rookie crew, but it may be their final pick that could play an equally important role. 

When the Hornets selected Ryan Kalkbrenner with the 34th pick in the 2025 Draft, they were banking on not just using the pick on a second-rounder that they would stash in the G-League with the Greensboro Swarm, but rather one who could potentially anchor their defense as they build for the future. A four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year during his five seasons with the Creighton Bluejays, the 7’1”, 256lb big man also captured the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-American honors during his senior season. 

Bringing a blend of old-school rim protection with a soft touch on the offensive end, Kalkbrenner can provide the Hornets with a player similar to Donovan Clingan or Walker Kessler, two former first-round picks. 

Averaging 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks during his final season with the Bluejays, Kalkbrenner showcased the kind of two-way play that NBA teams are looking for in their post players. 

As one of the oldest players from the 2025 rookie class at 23 years of age, Kalkbrenner anchored the Hornets Summer League team, starting all five games, averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. While those numbers don’t necessarily stand out compared to some of the top-tier rookies, Kalkbrenner did post 15 points, 9 boards, and a 1 block effort in the Hornets' championship-clinching game. 

For a team desperately in need of a young shot blocker to come off the bench, behind either Jusuf Nurkić or Mason Plumlee, two veteran big men who aren’t exactly known for their shot-altering skills, Kalkbrenner could easily find himself anchoring the defense for the second unit or even earning minutes with the starting five at some point.

The Hornets were in the middle of the NBA standings when it came to opposition points per game and ranked 22nd overall in blocked shots with 4.5 per game. If Kalkbrenner can provide Charlotte with a similar defensive presence that he gave the Bluejays, he could become a rotation staple by the end of the season and a building block (pun intended) for the future.