Can the Former Creighton Center Win the Rookie of the Year Award?
It's no secret that when the Hornets drafted Ryan Kalkbrenner in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, they were doing it to get more depth at the center position. After trading away Mark Williams and Jusuf Nurkic in the offseason, the Hornets acquired Mason Plumlee in free agency and drafted the former Creighton All-American to go along with Moussa Diabate to fill out the missing holes at center on the roster. In the Summer League, Kalkbrenner was impressive and a player that fans kept their eyes on; he displayed his athleticism in the paint and was a menace on the defensive end. If your shot was anywhere near Kalkbrenner, he was there to knock it away. The former All-American has displayed that he can earn a spot in the Hornets' rotation as their starting center, but if he shows consistency and is a reason that the team is winning games, then Kalkbrenner may find himself in Rookie of the Year contention.
A Hornets player has not won Rookie of the Year since LaMelo Ball in the 2020-21 season. Kalkbrenner has the chance to win the award because he would be one of the few second-round picks who could earn starting minutes this season. The former Creighton Bluejay can defend at a high level. He showed that in college when he was awarded the Big East Defensive Player of the Year Award four times throughout his collegiate career. His shot-blocking skills are one of the most NBA-ready skills, and his rim protection should easily translate to the pro game. Kalkbrenner recorded 399 blocks in college, which ranks 29th all-time in college basketball history. Offensively, he mainly produces in the paint, but he has developed a long-range shot that may surprise some people if he can consistently knock those types of shots down.
It may be an uphill battle for rookies not named Cooper Flagg to win this award, but Kalkbrenner has a high upside to win it or be in contention for the award. He put on some impressive performances over the summer, and his defensive abilities set him apart, unlike most rookies who rely on scoring the ball to set them apart. If his offensive game can match his defensive game, then Kalkbrenner could easily find himself in the discussion. His size, skillset, and overall game should allow the former big man from Creighton to not only contribute to the Hornets instantly, but it also could elevate his name across league circles when it comes to candidates for the Rookie of the Year Award.
