A strong 2025-26 draft class, headlined by forwards Ace Bailey and Cooper Flagg and guard V.J. Edgecombe, has made an early impression—but the Charlotte Hornets’ rookies stand out for all the right reasons.
Kalkbrenner making his mark
Center Ryan Kalkbrenner is quickly becoming one of the biggest stories of this rookie class.
He’s off to a historic start, shooting 90.0% from the field—the highest ever by a rookie through their first five games with at least five attempts per game. According to NBA.com, he also ranks No. 2 in true shooting percentage across the league and leads the NBA in effective field goal percentage at 82.9%.
Kalkbrenner also leads all rookies in rebounds per game at 7.1, while guard Kon Knueppel ranks No. 4 with 5.8, and guard Sion James sits at No. 11 with 3.1, according to NBA.com.
Defensively, Kalkbrenner has been just as impactful. As of Nov. 6, he ranks No. 9 in the Kia Rookie Ladder, also leading all first-year players in offensive rebounds and blocked shots.
His 19 blocks trail only center Victor Wembanyama’s 29 through the first two weeks. His combination of rim protection and rebounding has made him a difference-maker on both ends of the floor.
Konfident start
It takes guts to draft a player without a clear comparison, but with how quickly his game has translated, Knueppel already looks like a steal.
After being one of the biggest snubs in McDonald’s All-American history, he’s now off to one of the most impressive rookie starts in recent Hornets draft history. With Charlotte, he’s averaging 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
Knueppel currently ranks No. 2 among rookies in points per game, trailing only Edgecombe, according to StatMuse.com. He’s also tied for No. 3 in double-doubles alongside Edgecombe, forward Asa Newell and guard Cedric Coward, each with one.
He’s already notched three 20-point performances, including a 24-point night against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 2 and a 20-point double-double against the New Orleans Pelicans in Week 3.
Making NBA history isn’t easy, but Knueppel did just that by hitting 16 three-pointers in his first four games—the most ever by a player to start their career.
According to NBA.com, Knueppel ranks No. 4 in the Kia Rookie Ladder as of Nov. 5. His 25 made three-pointers through his first eight games are the most by a rookie since the NBA introduced the three-point line in 1979-80. That total also ranks No. 6 in the league this season, with Knueppel shooting 41% from deep.
Guard Kon Knueppel gets back on defense during a previous matchup.
Emmanuel Perkins/Niner Times
Sion sense
In just the second week of the NBA season, James earned his first start in Charlotte’s lineup against the Orlando Magic, marking the first time in franchise history that three rookies started in the same game.
Already exceeding expectations, James has averaged 8.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 62.2% from the field in just 24.3 minutes per game through his first eight contests.
According to NBA.com, James currently leads the NBA in three-point percentage at 70.0% (minimum 30 attempts) and ranks No. 1 in true shooting percentage at 83.7%. He’s also No. 3 in effective field goal percentage at 81.1%, trailing only teammate Kalkbrenner.
That kind of efficiency is rare for a guard in today’s league.
“He’s a beast—super strong,” said former college teammate Knueppel. “He doesn’t make mistakes on defense. He’s always making quick decisions on offense. And right now, he’s shooting like 100% from three. If you can do those things, you can play in this league for a long time.”
His physicality and intensity don’t always show up in the box score, but they make a clear impact every time he’s on the floor.
Rookie revolution
Charlotte’s rookie trio has brought a level of chemistry this team has lacked in recent years. Kalkbrenner’s record-breaking efficiency, Knueppel’s shot-making and James’s physicality have formed a young Hornets core already making its presence felt.
Based on their early play, Charlotte’s outlook is brighter than it’s been in years—and the rest of the league will have to take notice soon.