Overview
- The Charlotte Hornets selected Hannes Steinbach at No. 14 and Christian Anderson Jr. at No. 18 on Wednesday, June 24, giving both players guaranteed first‑round rookie contracts.
- Steinbach earned his draft status after a breakout season at the University of Washington where he averaged 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds, prompting ESPN to list him among the top 15 prospects and to call him the likely best rebounder in the class.
- A recorded congratulatory message from Dirk Nowitzki played during the draft for Steinbach, whose father Burkhard played alongside Nowitzki in Würzburg, highlighting a personal legacy link between the new Hornet and one of Germany’s greatest players.
- Christian Anderson Jr. is a 20‑year‑old guard from Texas Tech who has a long playing history with Steinbach on German youth teams and whose selection creates an immediately familiar backcourt pairing for Charlotte.
- The twin picks continue a recent increase in German NBA players and come with veteran outreach such as Isaiah Hartenstein offering mentorship, a dynamic that could speed the rookies’ transition and affect future German national‑team lineups.