2025 NBA Draft Scouting Report for Charlotte Hornets No. 34 Pick Ryan Kalkbrenner
The Charlotte Hornets have selected Ryan Kalkbrenner with the No. 34 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
The 23-year-old leaves Creighton as one of the most decorated players in program history, having earned four Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards and playing in 169 total career games.
Those 169 games spanned five total seasons, and it earns him a tie for No. 11 all-time in games played—just 10 total games behind the top spot set back in 2022.
This past season, Kalkbrenner was among the nation’s most efficient players, ranking 31st in scoring (19.2 PPG), 40th in rebounding (8.7 RPG), and fourth in field-goal percentage (65.4).
The 7'1" center even stretched the floor on occasion, attempting 148 threes across his career and converting 31.1 percent.
Defensively, Kalkbrenner's 2.7 blocks per game were good enough for fifth in the nation this past season. And his all-time 399 total blocks ties him with two other players for the 29th-most since the 1979-80 campaign.
As for his long-term upside, he may not project to All-Star levels, or even consistent starter status. But in the right system, he profiles as a smart, experienced, versatile rotation big with potential two-way impact.
At 23 years old, you have to wonder which of his skills may end up developing most. But one way he could raise his own ceiling is to work on his athleticism to keep up with the modern NBA big.
Kalkbrenner ranks No. 40 on B/R NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman's 2025 Prospect Big Board.
Essential Facts and Stats
College: Creighton | Position: C | Height: 7'1" | Weight: 257 lbs | Age: 23 | Vertical: 33" | Wingspan: 7'6" | PPG: 19.2 | RPG: 8.7 | APG: 1.5 | BPG: 2.7 | SPG: 0.5 | FG%: 65.3 | 3PT%: 34.4
Realistic Pro Comparison: Colin Castleton
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Like Toronto Raptors center Colin Castleton out of Florida, Kalkbrenner has NBA center size, a polished post game and shot-blocking tools.
They both also possess limited athleticism and perimeter skill.
Kalkbrenner figures to be auditioning for a backup center role like Castleton.
Strengths
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Offensive Rebounding: Kalkbrenner rebounds well on both ends, using his 7'6" wingspan and overall size to his advantage, creating good positioning and second-chance looks.
Passing: A smart high-post passer, he keeps the ball moving and can find cutters or shooters from the elbows and short roll. There will be a learning curve reading complex NBA defenses, but he makes simple, quick reads without forcing plays, and those are translatable skills.
Defensive Versatility: A proven shot-blocker and disciplined anchor in drop coverage, Kalkbrenner's 2.7 blocks per game and four Big East DPOYs show his consistent defensive impact around the rim.
Weaknesses
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Shooting: Kalkbrenner has shown some stretch potential, but the volume and versatility aren't there yet to pull defenders out of the paint consistently.
Athleticism: He struggles when pulled away from the rim. His foot speed and lateral quickness may limit him against switch-heavy or uptempo schemes.
Scoring Potential: Despite high efficiency, Kalkbrenner is more of a play-finisher than a creator. Without face-up skills or isolation value, his offense depends heavily on system and setup.
