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Charlotte Hornets 2025-26 player grades: Ryan Kalkbrenner

After five seasons with Creighton, Ryan Kalkbrenner landed with the Charlotte Hornets in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Due to Charlotte's lack of depth at center, the rookie was named a starter on opening night and held that spot until the emergence of Moussa Diabate eventually moved him to the bench. That said, the four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year played well in both roles, showcasing his rebounding and shot-blocking ability.

In 69 games, Kalkbrenner made 31 starts, averaging 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.5 blocks and 0.5 steals in 21.4 minutes per game. Kalkbrenner's field goal efficiency was among the league leaders, finishing top-five with a 75.3% success rate. If Kalkbrenner continues to do these things well, he'll have a solid NBA career as a backup center. However, if he hopes to take the next step, he'll need to work on his post-scoring and possibly add a jumper to stretch the floor as well.