Hornets Draft Big 12 Most Improved Player With 18th Overall Pick

The Charlotte Hornets are adding more young talent as they have selected Christian Anderson with the 18th overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Anderson won the Big 12 Most Improved Player award after a great season at Texas Tech. 

In his freshman season at Texas Tech in 2024-25, Anderson averaged 10.6 points, three rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He shot 42.9 percent from the field and 38 percent from three.

Anderson then had a breakout campaign in his sophomore year, improving drastically as a playmaker. He averaged 18.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 47.2 percent from the floor and 41.5 percent from behind the arc.

The 20-year-old guard could prove to be a quality backup as a shooter and playmaker behind LaMelo Ball.

The Hornets were close to ending their playoff drought in the 2025-26 season, as they finished with a 44-38 record and won their first Play-In Game before falling to the Orlando Magic in the second Play-In Game.

While it was a disappointing end to the season, it was a major step in the right direction for Charlotte.

Their young core of Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller led the way for the Hornets, as they all averaged over 18 points per game. 

Although Charlotte had this trio, it was important to add more talent this offseason as they look to take another leap and become a playoff team in the 2026-27 season.

The selection of Anderson gives them another quality piece for their young core, along with Hannes Steinbach, who Charlotte selected with the 14th overall pick.

With two key pieces joining the roster in the draft, the Hornets will now look to add more talent to the roster in free agency. The priority should be to retain guard Coby White in free agency, as he played at a high level after Charlotte acquired him at the trade deadline. 

Anderson and White would complement each other well as the backcourt off the bench behind Ball and Knueppel.

While the Hornets still have more work to do, the selections of Anderson and Steinbach are promising as they look to make a playoff push in the 2026-27 season.

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