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Everything to Know About Charlotte Hornets Summer League

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steven Corder | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 10:19 AM ET

For many on the Charlotte Hornets’ 2025 Summer League roster, Las Vegas isn’t just another basketball showcase, it’s a career-defining audition. With a deep pool of young prospects, roster spots up for grabs, and a center position wide open, the next Hornets breakthrough may very well emerge under the desert lights.

Kon Knueppel: Can the Shooter Become the Star?

Taken with the fourth pick in this year’s draft, Kon Knueppel brings a sniper’s mindset and high-IQ play to Charlotte. The former Duke standout’s 3-point shooting is elite, but Summer League will test more than his stroke. Can he create, defend, and lead? The Hornets are betting on it. With Cooper Flagg sidelined late in the season, Knueppel stepped up as Duke’s go-to scorer. Vegas will now reveal if he can command that same presence among pros.

Tidjane Salaün: Time to Silence the Doubts

Last year’s first-round pick showed flashes in 60 games but never quite silenced skeptics. He averaged just 5.9 points and shot 28.3% from three, but improved aggression off the dribble offered glimpses of untapped potential. After missing part of last year’s Summer League with injury, Salaün now gets a full opportunity to showcase year-over-year growth. Hornets fans are watching closely, and so is the front office.

Ryan Kalkbrenner: The Steal or the Question Mark?

The 7-footer from Creighton may be Charlotte’s biggest X-factor this summer. Known for elite rim protection and floor spacing (34.4% from three), Kalkbrenner has already earned praise as one of the 2025 NBA Draft’s smartest value picks. With the Hornets’ center rotation in flux, this is his shot to lock in a regular-season role. His college résumé speaks volumes, as a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, and a player who never fouled out in five seasons, but Summer League will be his first true NBA-level test.

More Than a Showcase

With assistant coach Chris Jent leading the squad, the Hornets aim to build on last year’s 7-1 Summer League run. But beyond the wins, this summer is about building habits, and possibly finding the next diamond in the rough.

One thing is clear: This Summer League isn’t just a developmental checkpoint, it’s a proving ground. And for players like Knueppel, Salaün, and Kalkbrenner, every possession could be the one that launches them into Charlotte’s rotation, or beyond.

The Hornets kick off Summer league action, Friday at 7PM EST versus the Utah Jazz on ESPN.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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