The Charlotte Hornets found their big man.
After trading 7-foot center Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, Charlotte selected Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner as the 34th overall pick in the second round of the NBA Draft via the New Orleans Pelicans.
The 7-foot-1 center averaged 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks during his fifth season at Creighton. Kalkbrenner flew under the radar during the draft, but was one of the best left available in Thursday’s second round. The 23-year-old will fill a major gap in Charlotte’s front court.
Here are four things to know about the Hornets’ newest center:
Creighton Bluejays center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) shoots the ball against Auburn Tigers guard Chad Baker-Mazara (10) during the second half in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena. Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
A prototypical big man
Kalkbrenner dominates the paint.
His 7-foot-6 wingspan and 9-foot-4 standing reach allow him to dunk pretty much everything he wants. He’s a reliable finisher with great hands. He also doesn’t turn the ball over much.
The 2025 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year led the defense at Creighton, with his rim protection and shot-blocking skills. He ranks second in Bluejays history in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage.
Although he’s known for his defense, he’s an underwhelming rebounder for his size, averaging 7.6 rebounds over the last four seasons.
He’s developed into a shooter, passer
Kalkbrenner continued to improve as a scorer throughout his five years at Creighton.
Last season, Kalkbrenner netted 65.3 percent of his shots, pushing him to fourth best in the nation. He also shot 32.2 percent from three — granted not at a high volume — during his final two seasons with the Bluejays.
He has become a reliable passer and can find open shooters. His shooting and passing have only continued to improve over the last five seasons.
Mobility, shot creation need developing
Kalkbrenner is not quick and can be exploited for by guards, forcing him to switch less on defense.
At Creighton, Kalkbrenner was dependent on other teammates to create scoring opportunities for him.
Not only does he need to develop his shot creation, but the players around him will have to work harder to find him. He will also need to become more athletic and stronger at the pro level.
A “veteran” on a young roster
Without Williams, who averaged 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season when he was healthy, the Hornets’ task for Round 2 was to find someone to replace him.
And they have.
Not only does Kalkbrenner bring his talents to Charlotte, but he also brings experience. He’s older than many of the draft prospects and the Hornets’ draft picks.
At Creighton, Kalkbrenner developed as a leader and communicator. He played in 138 games out of 169. This type of experience is rare for a college player and for a second-round pick.
Kalkbrenner can help anchor a young cohort next season, surrounded by Hornets players LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, as well as Duke guard Kon Knueppel and UConn forward Liam McKneeley.
Creighton Bluejays center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) looks on during the first half against the Auburn Tigers in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena. Aaron Doster-Imagn Images