Leading the league in field goal percentage with 90%! Hornets second-round pick Kalkbrenner becomes the biggest surprise of the new season

27 of 30 shots, 90% field goal percentage - this is not a video game data, but a real report card handed over by the Hornets' 34th pick Kalkbrenner.

When the score of the Hornets' 107-123 loss to the Magic was fixed on the scoreboard, Charlotte's night seemed unusual because of a rookie. Kalkbrenner, the center whose name was not called until the 34th pick on draft night, made 8 of 9 shots and scored 17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal and 3 blocks.

In the first five games of the season, the big man from the University of Colorado used a series of jaw-dropping performances to declare to the entire league that his name must not be missing from the discussion of the strongest rookie center in this class.

The efficiency is astonishing, with a 90% hit rate leading the league.

Kalkbrenner's season-opening performance can only be described as an "efficiency monster." After five games, he took 30 shots and hit 27 goals, with a shooting percentage of 90%.

This statistic not only ranks first among rookies, but also tops the league's official shooting percentage rankings. Walker Kessler, ranked second, shot 75%, which is significantly different from Kalkbrenner.

What's even more rare is that his efficiency is not maintained by a small number of shots. In five games, he scored 10 points, 14 points, 4 points, 10 points and 17 points respectively, and has become an important part of the Hornets' interior rotation.

Judging from the content of the game, Kalkbrenner's efficiency stems from his excellent position selection awareness and finishing ability. He rarely forces a shot and always catches the ball in the most appropriate position to finish. This mature style of play makes it hard to believe that he is just a rookie.

Stable output, efficient in all five games

Looking back at Kalkbrenner's performance in every game so far this season, it is amazingly stable:

vs. Nets: 10 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, 5 of 6 shots, a double-double in his debut

vs. 76ers: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 7 of 7 shots, 100% shooting

vs. Wizards: 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 of 3 shots, limited playing time but still efficient

Against the Heat: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block, 5 of 5 shots, another 100% hit

Against the Magic: 17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal and 3 blocks, 8 of 9 shots, a new high in scoring

This performance not only reflects his efficiency, but also shows his comprehensiveness. In addition to scoring, he can also contribute rebounds, steals and blocks, truly affecting the game on both offense and defense.

Especially in the game against the Magic, he blocked 3 shots, showing his potential on the defensive end. As a rookie, he has shown the all-around skills needed to be a modern NBA big man.

Counterattack story, from being ignored to being unable to ignore

The outbreak of Kalkbrenner is more like a counterattack story. Before the start of the new season, when many media analyzed the strongest center among this rookie class, as a second-round pick, he was never mentioned.

The focus of discussion at that time was on several other inside rookies: Sauber had high hopes but was reimbursed for the season and has not been able to play so far; Maluachi played two games, averaging only 3.5 points and 1 rebound per game, and shooting 33.3%; although Chinese player Yang Hansen played in every game, he averaged only 5.8 minutes per game, 1.8 points, and 22.2% shooting.

Now, Kalkbrenner has rewritten the direction of this discussion with his actual performance. He went from being "overlooked" on draft night to becoming the brightest star among this class's rookie centers.

Such a counterattack is no accident. In his final season in college, he averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, shooting 69% from the field. Now it seems that he just brought the efficiency of college directly to the NBA.

Technical characteristics, the perfect puzzle for modern insiders

The success of Kalkbrenner is based on clear technical characteristics. He is a classic post player who "knows what he is doing."

First of all, he has excellent finishing ability at the basket. His shot selection is extremely reasonable, and he rarely forces a shot when he is in a bad position, which directly contributes to his ultra-high shooting percentage.

Secondly, his awareness on the defensive end exceeds that of many of his peers. Averaged more than 1 block per game, coupled with smart defensive positioning, allowing him to quickly adapt to the defensive intensity of the NBA.

More importantly, he knows how to influence the game without taking up a lot of the ball. He will not ask for low-post singles, but will score through pick-and-rolls, air cuts and secondary attacks. This style of play perfectly fits the requirements of modern basketball for inside players.

Future outlook, a strong contender for the Best Rookie of the Year

Although the season has just begun, Kalkbrenner has already shown the potential to compete for the Best Rookie Team. If he can keep up his current performance, he might even become a dark horse in the Rookie of the Year discussion.

The Hornets don't seem to fully realize what kind of treasure they have picked up yet. As the season progresses, Kalkbrenner's playing time is expected to continue to increase, and his statistics are likely to improve with it.

For the Hornets, selecting such an insider with strong immediate combat ability in the second round is undoubtedly a major victory in the draft operation. The cooperation between Kalkbrenner and the other young core of the team is worth looking forward to.

Judging from his current performance, he is likely to become one of the biggest steals in this draft. Teams that passed on him in the first round may now be re-evaluating their options.

"Who do you think is the strongest center in this rookie class?" When this question was asked before the start of the new season, no one would have thought that the answer was Kalkbrenner.. But now, the data does not lie - 90% shooting rate, the league's first efficiency, comprehensive offensive and defensive contributions, all point to one fact.

Counterattack stories are always particularly moving, and on the NBA stage, Kalkbrenner is writing his own chapter. From the 34th pick to the top in efficiency, the Hornets rookie proved in the most basketball way: Draft picks are just numbers, and court performance is the real language.

As the season progresses, how many more surprises can this "Mr. 90%" bring? Perhaps this is just the beginning of his amazing league.