Kalkbrenner finished with 14 points (7-7 FG), 10 rebounds, one assist and one block across 25 minutes during Saturday's 120-116 preseason win over the Mavericks.
Kalkbrenner was incredibly efficient as a starter, as he was flawless from the field, hitting all seven of his field-goal attempts. The rookie center continues to make an impression during the preseason, which could result in more time on the floor for the Creighton product once the regular season gets underway.
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Hornets' Ryan Kalkbrenner: Fares well off bench
Rotowire
Kalkbrenner finished with 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-5 FT), seven rebounds, two steals and one block across 25 minutes of Sunday's 135-114 preseason loss to the Thunder.
Mason Plumlee was out for personal reasons, while Moussa Diabate started at center and played 13 minutes. The Hornets gave all their starters a light workload, while Kalkbrenner led the team in minutes despite coming off the bench. Kalkbrenner has been generating a lot of buzz at training camp, and even if he doesn't start on Opening Night, it seems inevitable that he will win this position battle at some point soon.
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Hornets' Ryan Kalkbrenner: Posts near double-double in SL win
Rotowire
Kalkbrenner recorded 15 points (5-6 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 4-5 FT), nine rebounds, one steal and a block during Sunday's 83-78 Summer League championship win.
Kalkbrenner put together a strong performance in the Summer League championship game Sunday, tying for a team-high in rebounds and being one of five Hornets players to score in double figures. Kalkbrenner was also valuable on the defensive end, not only recording a steal and a block but also providing flexibility in matchups and guarding the Kings' point guard at times. His defensive ability could give him a path to playing time during the upcoming season.
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Hornets' Ryan Kalkbrenner: Taken by Charlotte
Rotowire
Kalkbrenner was selected by the Hornets with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Kalkbrenner, out of Creighton, wrapped up his college career as one of the most accomplished defenders in Big East history, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors four times. During the 2024-25 season, he posted 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 65.3 percent over 35 contests. Though concerns about his athleticism may have kept him out of the first round, Kalkbrenner's production and defensive pedigree give him a strong chance to contribute right away for a Hornets team that recently dealt Mark Williams.
