When the Hornets drafted Tidjane Salaün with the 6th pick in the NBA draft last June, the French phenom was the youngest player taken in the 1st round. The 6'8 forward was considered a project; the talent was apparent but adapting to the NBA game was going to take time. In a season that slipped away from the Hornets due to injuries, Salaün's time may be now.
His rookie season got off to a rocky start, averaging 5.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 1.1 apg in 19 minutes before the all-star break. Salaün's shooting left a lot to be desired as he struggled to 31% from the field, 28% from beyond the arc, and 72% from the free throw line. He battled consistency and was sent to the G league where he was able to let things slow down a bit. He seems to have brought that mentality back to the NBA. In 5 games since being recalled from Greensboro he's averaging 9.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, and 2.3 apg in 26 minutes, and his shooting is much improved at (50% fg/33 3-pt %/77 ft%).
After a 12 point, 14 rebound double-double Friday night vs the Raptors, Salaün said he's starting to settle in. "With time, I've started to feel more comfortable. I've gone through some ups and downs, and that has helped me to grow. That is just part of the journey. It has helped me to feel better mentally, to keep going during the game, and playing at the same level of competitiveness."
The competitiveness and the confidence are a major part of his game. Salaün is ready to take any shot at any time, something veteran teammate Josh Green loves about the teenage rookie. "I have so much faith in him. He works hard, super competitive, and has the utmost confidence every time he goes out on the court. When you have that, I'll go to battle with him every day of the week, and I'm super excited to see his growth."
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The growth was on display in Monday night's win over the Jazz where Salaün had 12 points and 4 rebounds, grabbed 2 steals and blocked 2 shots. He was also efficient, shooting 4 for 5 from the floor, and 3 out of 3 from downtown, while not turning the ball over. After the game Salaün said he's been working on reigning in his aggressive style. "I've slowed down a little bit, so I can see the whole court and control what I can control, I've grown for sure so I can see the opportunity for an assist, a cut, a three point (shot), it's a big difference because I'm more in control."
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Things slowing down for a kid with this much talent is exactly what head coach Charles Lee and GM Jeff Peterson want to hear. If Salaün can find the balance between his explosiveness and control, the Hornets may have another building block.
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This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 9:42 AM.