Led by star point guard LaMelo Ball, the Charlotte Hornets are likely still a few years away from being considered serious playoff contenders.
A few of the Hornets' rookies, notably guard Kon Knueppel and center Ryan Kalkbrenner, are showing signs of rapid development early in their NBA careers.
Standing 7-foot-1, Kalkbrenner is a defensive force. During November, he recorded four consecutive games with four blocks and is averaging 1.9 rejections per game.
The 23-year-old's offensive game is centered around the rim, but it was his defensive prowess that won him four Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards at Creighton University. The only other player in conference history to accomplish the feat is New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing, doing so at Georgetown University.
During the 2024-25 season, the Creighton Blue Jays finished second in the Big East by averaging 4.21 blocks per game, with Kalkbrenner anchoring the paint.
Kalkbrenner suffers ankle injury against Knicks
The Hornets dropped their second consecutive game against a New York-based team on Wednesday, losing 119-104 against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. They fell to the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on Monday.
Kalkbrenner, who finished with eight points and nine rebounds in 25 minutes, sprained his left ankle during the fourth quarter and exited the game. He fouled and landed on the foot of Miles McBride, who attempted a three-point shot.
Moussa Diabate was in the starting lineup for the Hornets, leaving Kalkbrenner on the bench to start a game for the first time this season.
Sitting in the stands to watch the game was Ewing, who is an ambassador for his former team.
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