Overview
- The Charlotte Hornets selected Hannes Steinbach at No. 14 and Christian Anderson at No. 18 in the first round, a Wednesday decision that gave both players guaranteed NBA contracts.
- Steinbach is a 20-year-old 2.11 m forward who starred for the Washington Huskies and averaged 11.8 rebounds per game, a mark ESPN called the best in the draft class.
- Anderson, also 20, is a guard who played at Texas Tech and has dual German-American ties and youth national-team experience with Steinbach on the 2025 U19 squad.
- Dirk Nowitzki sent a congratulatory video referencing Steinbach’s Würzburg roots, and Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein privately offered Steinbach advice, adding informal mentorship as they join the league.
- The back-to-back first-round picks extend a recent surge of German players in the NBA and give both rookies roster security that should help their development and the national talent pipeline.