The Charlotte Hornets have signed rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner to a four-year, $9.97 million contract, league sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The No. 34 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft secured a deal that includes $4.7 million guaranteed over the first two years, the maximum allowed under the second-round exception.
Kalkbrenner’s contract also features a trigger date in the third year and a team option for the fourth, giving Charlotte flexibility as he develops at the professional level.
The 23-year-old arrives in the NBA following a decorated five-year career at Creighton, where he averaged 14.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game over 169 appearances. He finished his final college season with 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 65.3% from the field.
Known for his elite rim protection and efficient scoring in the paint, Kalkbrenner earned the 2025 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award as the nation’s top center and was named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. He also became a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time First-Team All-Big East honoree.
Charlotte drafted Kalkbrenner with the second pick of the second round, viewing him as a long-term defensive anchor to complement their young core. His ability to alter shots and control the glass could address the Hornets’ interior weaknesses, which have plagued them in recent seasons.
During his time at Creighton, Kalkbrenner also showed growth as a shooter, connecting on 31.1% of his three-point attempts over his career and improving to 34.4% in his final year. His offensive versatility adds another dimension to Charlotte’s frontcourt rotation.
