The Charlotte Hornets opened their season with a mix of curiosity and anticipation, and much of it centered on rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner. Drafted 34th overall out of Creighton University, Kalkbrenner wasn’t projected as a franchise cornerstone — but in his first real NBA action, he looked every bit the part of a modern rim-protecting big.
Against the Brooklyn Nets, Kalkbrenner started alongside fellow rookie Kon Knueppel, marking the first time in Hornets history that two first-year players opened a season in the starting lineup. The message from head coach Charles Lee was clear: the youth movement is here, and it’s real.