Hannes Steinbach Adjusting to NBA Physicality in First Hornets Training Camp

Hannes Steinbach went through his first NBA training camp this week with the Charlotte Hornets at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., a little more than three months after Charlotte drafted him 14th overall.

The Hornets took Steinbach out of Washington with the final lottery pick on June 23. He started all 30 games as a freshman and averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. The rebounding average led the country. He was named Third Team All-Big Ten by the league's coaches and media, and he had 24 rebounds and 22 points in one game against USC.

The first two days of camp practice were intense, by Steinbach's account.

"I think physicality and speed, especially playing against a guy like Moussa," Steinbach said. "He's very physical, very fast for his size, so just adjusting to that and being able to play against that and control against that."

Moussa Diabaté won the NBA's Hustle Award in April. He started 47 games at center last season and averaged 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. His 3.7 offensive rebounds per game ranked fifth in the league.

Charlotte also added Naz Reid in the LaMelo Ball trade with Minnesota, and Ryan Kalkbrenner, the 34th pick in 2025, is back for his second season.

Steinbach already knows the Hornets' coverages.

"It helped a lot," Steinbach explained. "Just being around everybody, being around the coaches throughout the whole summer, knowing the place a little bit, knowing our coverages. So now it's not too much at once, so it's been definitely helpful to have been here all summer."

Las Vegas was part of that summer. Steinbach had 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench against the Orlando Magic in his Summer League debut. In his first start, against the Milwaukee Bucks, he had 27 points and 15 rebounds and shot 13-of-22.

He averaged 15.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists over five games and closed with back-to-back 20-point double-doubles. Charlotte went 1-4.

Charlotte acquired Dennis Schröder and cash from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade announced Aug. 20 that sent Tre Mann out of Charlotte.

Schröder is 33 and the captain of the German national team, and he was MVP of the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The Hornets are his 12th NBA team. Christian Anderson Jr., whom Charlotte drafted 18th overall out of Texas Tech, is also German, which puts three Germans on the camp roster.

Steinbach said Schröder has been giving him tips off the court.

"I haven't played with him yet in Germany, but it's great to have him here," Steinbach said. "Just having somebody talk German to is nice, just having his experience on the court and also his tips off the court is very helpful."

Steinbach's father, Burkhard Steinbach, played professionally in Germany.

Practices ran at McAlister Field House from Sept. 29 through Oct. 2. The team had dinner together the first night, and Steinbach's third day of camp was a lighter one after the two intense practices.

Running the floor is on Steinbach's list for getting into the rotation.

"I think just playing physical, playing hard, playing the right way, running the floor, just making the right plays, give [my] body up for the team," Steinbach said. "So just making the right plays to get into the rotation."

Charlotte opens its preseason schedule at home against the Brooklyn Nets at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The regular season opens Oct. 21 in Brooklyn.