Hornets grab Hannes Steinbach, Christian Anderson in 2026 NBA Draft
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Armed with a pair of first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets went with an inside-outside approach.
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The Hornets nabbed University of Washington center Hannes Steinbach with the No. 14 overall selection before taking Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson at No. 18 in the league’s annual event at Barclays Center in New York on Tuesday night.
“Going into the draft, you’re constantly trying to figure out how you can continue to get talent into this building and they’re certainly not finished products,” said Jeff Peterson, the Hornets’ president of basketball operations. “They’re so young. They’re going to continue to get better because they’re about the right things.
“They work, they put the time in. They want to be great. They both played on a big stage this year in various games.”
Steinbach led the nation with 22 double-doubles, placing him one shy of matching Jon Brockman’s single-season school record at Washington. A native of Würzburg, he settled in nicely in his one season with the Huskies. Steinbach paced Washington, averaging 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals in 30 appearances.
“I definitely bring rebounding,” Steinbach said on a Zoom with Charlotte-area media. “I definitely want to improve to be able to spread the floor and provide spacing for the team.”
He’s also adept at screening, which would allow him to flourish in a two-man game with Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball, can put the ball on the floor and also shoot. He sank 57.7% of his overall attempts and canned 34% from 3-point range.
Steinbach’s measurables are also impressive. At the NBA Combine in Chicago in May, he checked in at 6-foot-10, 248 pounds. He has a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a standing reach of 9 feet.
“Best rebounder in the draft,” Peterson said. “He’s someone who is just continuously trying to get better. He’s very skilled, a very high IQ player. He fits us from a DNA standpoint. Just his work ethic, his values are aligned with what we’re trying to accomplish.
“So, excited to have him. I know he’s going to make us better on both ends.”
Steinbach fits the profile of what Peterson alluded to after the season, when he noted the Hornets were in need of a boost in physicality, which became even more evident following their loss to the Orlando Magic in the play-in tournament.
That’s become even more of a necessity now that the Hornets have to contend with a tall tandem of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo four times a season following the expected completion of the blockbuster trade sending Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat from the Milwaukee Bucks.
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“Our own guys already, they’re in the weight room every day,” Peterson said. “Like I said, they took that Orlando game to heart at the end of the season. They know that they have to themselves from here and figure out how they can continue to take ownership. So they’ve done a tremendous job from that standpoint.
“But yeah, it’s always good to have these rookies who take ownership of their game and their body. And they’re both professionals. They’re going to continue to come in and be about the right stuff. So, I know just that type of mentality is contagious.”
Considered among the upper echelon of the shooters in this year’s crops along with Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz, who went two picks ahead at No. 14 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Anderson put up solid numbers at Texas Tech. He averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 38.4 minutes per game, starting in all 33 appearances.
“One of the best shooters in the draft,” Peterson said. “He shot about 40% on three, just right under eight attempts a game. Shoots them off the balance, catch-and-shoot, spot ups — just in various ways. And then his IQ as well.
“He’s one of the best pick-and-roll players in the draft, too. Does a tremendous job of valuing the ball.”
Named All-Big 12 First Team, Anderson led the conference in assists (244) and minutes per game (38.4) during his sophomore season.
“My year at Tech,” Anderson said, “it allowed me to kind of be put in super high pressure situations and be able to perform in front of tough crowds, tough environments when all odds are against us. So I think being there and being asked to have that role, I feel like it just prepared me for not being afraid of pressure.
“My offensive skill set, pick-and-rolls, shooting on and off the dribble, I feel like I can space the floor just as good as I can make plays for my teammates. I play both roles and I pride myself on being plug and play. So playing in any type of situation I’m asked to play in, I feel like I can do it and I adapt really fast and just a person who’s willing to do anything it takes to win and do all the little things.”
Anderson’s father, Christian Sr., played at the College of Charleston and Virginia Union before recording a 10-year career as a pro overseas. Although he’s a native of Atlanta, Christian Jr. holds dual citizenship in Germany because of his father and has represented the German national basketball team in various international youth tournaments.
So there’s already a natural connection between Steinbach and Anderson.
“Yeah, very excited to team up with him again,” Steinbach said. “He’s a great point guard. He can really pass them, but also can create his own shot. Has a deep three ball. So, yeah, very talented player the Hornets are getting.”
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This story was originally published June 23, 2026 at 9:52 PM.
