Jul 12, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter of their game at Thomas & Mack Center.

On Thursday, the Charlotte Hornets selected Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner as the No. 34 overall pick in the second round of the NBA Draft.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WOWT) - Ryan Kalkbrenner was officially introduced by the Charlotte Hornets, along with their three other 2025 draft picks, at a news conference Friday. Kalkbrenner held up a No ...

Kalkbrenner is the only true 7-footer on the roster, and Charlotte’s first-round pick (No. 27 overall) Liam McNeeley knows from experience in his lone season in the Big East.

That move came via the 34th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Ryan Kalkbrenner, a hulking center from Creighton University that fills a need for Charles Lee's Hornets.

Center Ryan Kalkbrenner played five years at Creighton, where he averaged 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in his last season.

Kalkbrenner is a St. Louis native who was raised in Florissant and played high school basketball for Trinity Catholic High School. For a closer look at selections from the 2025 NBA Draft, click here.

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).