- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,172,134
- Reaction score
- 59
The Charlotte Hornets selected big man Hannes Steinbach with the 14th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Following the selection, NBA analyst Bobby Marks talked about Steinbach's game and former players who have mentored them.
"Hannes Steinbach is an elite-level rebounder," Marks said. "Detlef Schrempf really took him under his wing. Washington has a train of guys, German players, that have gone through. His dad played with Dirk (Nowitzki)."
Steinbach has some good mentors and showcased his talent in his freshman season at Washington, as he averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 34 percent from three.
His rebounding and size down low will help Charlotte's frontcourt improve drastically. The center position was the biggest hole for the Hornets to upgrade after falling to the Orlando Magic in the Play-In Tournament.
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
However, Moussa Diabaté and Ryan Kalkbrenner have shown some flashes as young rotational centers. In the 2025-26 season, Diabaté averaged 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and a block per game, shooting 63.1 percent from the floor.
Kalkbrenner played well in his rookie campaign, as he averaged 7.6 points per game along with 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while shooting 75.3 percent from the field.
The Hornets have a promising young core led by LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller, and with new pieces like Steinbach and Christian Anderson coming in, they could end their playoff drought in the 2026-27 season.
Their focus will now shift to free agency to upgrade the roster, and they will have to make some difficult decisions with guard Coby White entering free agency.
White was a key trade deadline acquisition for Charlotte, appearing in 21 games, averaging 15.6 points, three rebounds, and three assists per game, shooting 46.1 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from distance.
The Hornets front office has done a great job over the last couple of years, and if they make some solid moves in free agency and through trades, they could be in the postseason next year.
Hornets Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Hornets. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
Continue reading...
Following the selection, NBA analyst Bobby Marks talked about Steinbach's game and former players who have mentored them.
"Hannes Steinbach is an elite-level rebounder," Marks said. "Detlef Schrempf really took him under his wing. Washington has a train of guys, German players, that have gone through. His dad played with Dirk (Nowitzki)."
Steinbach has some good mentors and showcased his talent in his freshman season at Washington, as he averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 34 percent from three.
His rebounding and size down low will help Charlotte's frontcourt improve drastically. The center position was the biggest hole for the Hornets to upgrade after falling to the Orlando Magic in the Play-In Tournament.
You must be registered for see images attach
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
However, Moussa Diabaté and Ryan Kalkbrenner have shown some flashes as young rotational centers. In the 2025-26 season, Diabaté averaged 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and a block per game, shooting 63.1 percent from the floor.
Kalkbrenner played well in his rookie campaign, as he averaged 7.6 points per game along with 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while shooting 75.3 percent from the field.
The Hornets have a promising young core led by LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller, and with new pieces like Steinbach and Christian Anderson coming in, they could end their playoff drought in the 2026-27 season.
Their focus will now shift to free agency to upgrade the roster, and they will have to make some difficult decisions with guard Coby White entering free agency.
White was a key trade deadline acquisition for Charlotte, appearing in 21 games, averaging 15.6 points, three rebounds, and three assists per game, shooting 46.1 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from distance.
The Hornets front office has done a great job over the last couple of years, and if they make some solid moves in free agency and through trades, they could be in the postseason next year.
Hornets Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Hornets. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
Continue reading...
