Rookie Center Turning Heads in Charlotte
Ryan Kalkbrenner wasn’t a first-round pick, but he’s already making a case for being the best rookie center in the NBA this season. Picked 34th overall by the Charlotte Hornets, he’s outscoring and outplaying most of the other centers drafted this year. Of the 11 centers taken in the 2025 NBA Draft, four were picked after him and have yet to make an impact, while only one of the six taken before him has recorded a double-digit scoring game. Kalkbrenner, on the other hand, has done it in both of his first two outings, averaging 12 points, nine rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting over 92% from the field. For a second-round rookie, that level of production is hard to ignore.
What makes him especially valuable is how well he meshes with the Hornets’ roster. With LaMelo Ball orchestrating the offense and wings like Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller providing scoring and athleticism, the team benefits from a big man who can finish around the rim and protect the paint. Other guards like Collin Sexton, Tre Mann, and even rookies Kon Knueppel and Sion James also gain extra opportunities thanks to his rebounding and interior presence, and his size allows Charlotte to stretch defenses more effectively. He’s also capable of switching onto smaller players in certain defensive sets, giving the Hornets added versatility. His style of play balances the fast-paced, perimeter-oriented attack while giving the team a reliable interior anchor.
Kalkbrenner’s impact is rooted in a standout college career at Creighton, where he consistently demonstrated scoring efficiency and rebounding ability. Over 169 games, he averaged 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 65.8% from the field and finished with more than 2,400 career points. Last season alone, he scored over 600 points, including a remarkable 49-point performance in the season opener while going 20-for-22 from the floor. That combination of scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking is now translating to the NBA, and his high basketball IQ shows in how quickly he’s adapted to Charlotte’s system.
With veteran Mason Plumlee nearing the later stage of his career and Moussa Diabaté being a little undersized in certain game situations, Kalkbrenner looks poised to earn consistent minutes at center. His early production suggests the Hornets can confidently rely on him as a starter, and he may continue to hold that role if he keeps performing at this level. The combination of size, skill, and efficiency gives Charlotte a promising frontcourt presence, and his chemistry with the team’s guards and wings only strengthens that role. If he keeps building on this strong start, he won’t just be a promising rookie; he could quickly become one of the Hornets’ most reliable contributors.
