The Charlotte Hornets have earned themselves quite the prediction after beating the Brooklyn Nets on opening night.
The Charlotte Hornets thumped the Brooklyn Nets in their season opener, winning 136-117 while shooting 53.3 percent from the floor and having a hefty nine players score in double figures.
Yes, it was the Nets, but this was still an eye-opening performance by the Hornets nonetheless. Remember: Charlotte won just 19 games last year, so any sign of growth is a positive.
Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey was particularly impressed by what he saw from rookies Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner, both of whom shined in their debuts.
Bailey went as far to predict that Knueppel and Kalkbrenner will earn All-Rookie selections this year.
"Any team facing the Nets' defense is primed for overreactions. But even when you account for the context, Charlotte Hornets rookies Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner both looked good enough to get in the mix for All-Rookie nods," Bailey wrote.
Bailey wasn't shocked by Knueppel, but he was definitely caught off guard by Kalkbrenner.
Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner. Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images."For Knueppel, that's not all that surprising. He was the fourth overall pick, and his well-rounded game and outside shooting made him a natural fit in lineups with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. He steadily contributed throughout his debut, had 11 points and went 3-of-4 from deep," Bailey wrote. "The more surprising turn of events is Ryan Kalkbrenner (picked 34th overall) joining Knueppel in the starting five, anchoring a decent defensive effort and finishing with an 11-rebound, 10-point, two-block double-double in his NBA debut."
Given how badly the Hornets need a reliable center, Kalkbrenner's inaugural game was that much more imperative to the team. Charlotte traded Jusuf Nurkic over the summer, and outside of signing Mason Plumlee, it didn't do anything to replace him.
The Hornets have actually put together quite an impressive group of young talent here, with Ball and Miller leading the way and flanked by other notable youngsters even beyond Knueppel and Kalkbrenner. Of course, much of this will depend on whether or not Ball — who has played 105 games the past three seasons — can stay healthy, but if he does, watch out.
Charlotte won't be contending for a championship or making any sort of deep playoff run, but sneaking into the postseason in the watered-down Eastern Conference is not out of the realm of possibility for this team.
The Hornets will face the Philadelphia 76ers this Saturday.