The Charlotte Hornets looked as good as they have in years in their season-opening win. In the process, rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner may be changing everything for the Hornets this season and beyond.
The best way to tank in the modern NBA is to have a terrible or inexperienced point guard rotation. Just behind it, however, is to have an overmatched center rotation. If you don't have any big men of note, your ability to play NBA defense is essentially shot.
That was the expectation for the Charlotte Hornets heading into this season. They upgraded their guard room behind LaMelo Ball, drafting Kon Knueppel and Sion James and trading for Collin Sexton; add in Tre Mann getting healthy and a weakness turned into something approximating a strength.
The center position was a wasteland, however. Veteran journeyman center Mason Plumlee is no longer a viable rotation player, let alone a starter. The Moussa Diabate was a great find for the Hornets last season and leveled up during the stretch run of the season. They used a second-round pick on Ryan Kalkbrenner out of Creighton.
Yet with Mark Williams and Nick Richards leaving for the Phoenix Suns over the last eight months, the huge step down in experience and proven ability was supposed to shred the Hornets' ability to compete defensively. It was likely even intentional, building in an Achilles Heel so that the Hornets could take steps for the future while also ensuring that they have a top-tier lottery pick once again in what projects to be a loaded 2026 NBA Draft.
Enter Ryan Kalkbrenner.
Ryan Kalkbrenner may be changing the plan.
The 7'1" Kalkbrenner was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year while in college. Not merely once while in college, but essentially for the entirety of his time in college. He won the award four consecutive times for the Creighton Blue Jays, a towering force in the paint who blocked shots like he was playing against Lilliputians.
Yet it was a very real question as to how that would translate to a more mobile NBA. Slow-footed college centers have been eaten alive by the modern NBA where bigs are expected to rotate across the entire width of the court, blitzing and hedging and even switching screens while also defending the rim. Could Kalkbrenner keep up? And how long would it take him to get up to speed?
The answer, at least thus far, is not very long at all. After a solid preseason, Kalkbrenner was dominant in his first official game in a Charlotte uniform. He started over Diabate and played 27 minutes against the Brooklyn Nets. For all that Brooklyn is rebuilding, the center position is the one place they have established talent; Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney and Day'Ron Sharpe looked like the second-round rookies.
While the Nets' bigs shot efficiently enough in the paint, they were outrebounded as a team 50-38. Kalkbrenner was responsible for 11 of those, and his work on the glass helped teammates get other boards as well. He shot a tidy 5-for-6 from the field and had a pair of blocks. He wasn't prime Dwight Howard, but he more than held his own. If he is ready to play against NBA opponents already as a rookie second-rounder, that is huge for the Hornets.
There is ground to be gained in a soft Eastern Conference. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller are healthy; Miles Bridges looks great. Kon Knueppel is as advertised. This is a team with real NBA players and talented rookies who are rising up into their roles. Is the Play-In Tournament entirely out of the question? It likely seemed that way heading into the season.
Ryan Kalkbrenner may be changing things. It's one game, against a terrible team, but it likely means something. If he can continue to be a low-end starting center it will mean a lot for the Hornets, both this season and beyond.