Ryan Kalkbrenner worked his whole life for an NBA opportunity — one he’ll now have in Charlotte.
The Hornets used the No. 34 pick in this year’s NBA draft to select the former Creighton center, bringing in the 7-foot-1 rim protector, considered a steal of a second-round selection, to fill a frontcourt need.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Kalkbrenner said after Thursday night’s second round. “I’m just so thankful to the Hornets for giving me that opportunity, and I’m ready to come work and be the best version of myself for this team, to help this team win.”
Charlotte could use the best version of Kalkbrenner, a four-time Big East defensive player of the year.
It traded rising center Mark Williams during Wednesday’s first round, paving the way for Kalkbrenner to carve out a role as a rookie. He joins Moussa Diabete and Jusuf Nurkic in the mix for the Hornets’ starting center, and Kalkbrenner believes he can contribute from the jump.
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He doesn’t care about any perception surrounding second-round picks.
Moving forward, the only thing that matters is how he helps the Hornets, who haven’t made the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, and how Kalkbrenner supplements a young core featuring Lamelo Ball, Brandon Miller and draftees Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeeley and Sion James.
Confidently, Kalkbrenner said his five years at Creighton — where he started 138 games, scored 2,443 points, grabbed 1,146 rebounds and swatted 399 shots — prepared him for whatever’s next.
That’s where he matured and, season by season, became a more polished player.
“My potential is way higher than people think,” Kalkbrenner said.
Creighton coach Greg McDermott has known that since Kalkbrenner arrived in Omaha. Back then, McDermott told Kalkbrenner to pick a major he could complete in three years. It took an extra two, but Kalkbrenner is now where McDermott always thought he’d be: the NBA.
“Mac was with me watching the draft. That meant the world to me,” said Kalkbrenner, who watched with close friends and family. “Mac has meant so much to me, helped me so, so much along the way. Looking back at my five years with him, I couldn’t be more grateful to be recruited by him, for him to believe in me before I believed in myself.”
Kalkbrenner wants to further develop his 3-point shot, he said, coming off a farewell tour where he hit a career-high 34.4% from deep on 61 attempts, another career high.
And as good of a rim protector as he is — Kalkbrenner’s career 248 blocks in Big East play are the most in league history — he wants to become even better on that end of the floor.
After years anchoring Creighton’s drop coverage, he wants to improve on the perimeter, something that would allow Kalkbrenner to complement his paint protection with the ability to switch matchups and serve as a more versatile defender.
Kalkbrenner admittedly has room to grow, but he doesn’t want that to deflect from what he has already shown he’s capable of.
“I just think I make an impact in a lot of ways in games that a lot of people don’t see,” Kalkbrenner said. “Being a second-round pick, some people might have lower expectations for what or whatnot. But I’m a competitor. I want to win. I want to come in and help win right away, and I know I can do that if I’m playing to my potential.
“As far as ceiling goes, I don’t know exactly where it is, but it’s up there to me. Some people think a fifth-year senior, he’s kind of reached his talent — that’s not the case with me.”
Part of that, Kalkbrenner said, is because he doesn’t look or move like a prototypical prospect. He knows it was often awkward to watch his 7-foot-1, 260-pound frame run the floor for 34 minutes a night at Creighton. He knows he doesn’t always pass the eye test.
That’s never mattered to him, though, and it didn’t matter to the Hornets, either.
“I play my butt off, I do all the little things to win, I’m locked in every single day trying to get better. Those are things that sometimes slide by people,” Kalkbrenner said. “I’m glad Charlotte recognized it, and I’m getting an opportunity there. I’m looking forward to showing everyone how much I can impact winning.”
Photos: Our favorite photos from the 2024-25 Creighton men's basketball season
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Creighton's Pop Isaacs (2) goes up for a 3-pointer s head coach Greg McDermott motions in the background during the second half of a men's college basketball game against Kansas at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) shoots a layup during the second half of a men's college basketball game against Villanova at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton players cheer from the bench during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Xavier at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ty Davis (9), left, and Jasen Green (0) celebrate after their victory over Xavier in a men's college basketball game at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) walks away after addressing fans during senior day festivities after a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Mason Miller (13) poses for a portrait during Creighton men's basketball media day in Omaha on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Jamiya Neal (5) goes up for a layup against Houston Christian's Porter Bazil (7) during the second half of a men's college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Fredrick King (33) goes up for a shot against Houston Christian's Porter Bazil (7) during the second half of a men's college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) and Sterling Knox (4) celebrate with head coach Greg McDermott after his 328 win at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) goes up for a 3-pointer against Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton mascot Billy Bluejay dunks the ball during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Kansas at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton players celebrate after their fans rushed the court after defeating Kansas, 76-63, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) goes up for a shot above Seton Hall's Emmanuel Okorafor (23) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Seton Hall's Garwey Dual (33) dunks the ball against Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Isaac Traudt (41) is celebrated after a call agaisnt Seton Hall's Jahseem Felton (15) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Isaac Traudt (41) dunks the ball during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Xavier at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) reacts after a basket against Xavier during the second half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Billy Bluejay waves a flag during player introductions before the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) dribbles the ball against Marquette during the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Mason Miller (13) looks to pass the ball away from Marquette's Kam Jones (1) during the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Jamiya Neal (5) dunks the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Connecticut at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) goes up to dunk the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Georgetown at the CHI Center in Omaha on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) celebrates going into a timeout after dunking the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Georgetown at the CHI Center in Omaha on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dunks the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against DePaul at CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) walks out during pre-game introductions before the first half af a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) carries his son Tommy Jay as he walks out during senior day festivities after a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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