Hannes Steinbach’s NBA dream is coming true. The Würzburg native was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 14th pick.
The Charlotte Hornets select Hannes Steinbach with the 14th pick. The 2.08-meter big man impressed during his freshman season at the University of Washington, averaging 18.5 points and a league-leading 11.8 rebounds per game. With those numbers, the Würzburg native earned a spot in the lottery and became the highest-drafted German since Franz Wagner (8th) in 2021.
No player in college basketball grabbed more rebounds last season; he also scored highly efficiently near the basket and made nearly 58 percent of his field goals. The Hornets hope he will provide a long-term solution at the center position and serve as the perfect complement to their young core of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel.
However, Steinbach brings not only size and physicality but also a high level of basketball IQ and great reliability. Many scouts particularly praised his work ethic, his presence under the basket, and his defensive commitment. As a result, he could see playing time in Charlotte much sooner than many other big men in his draft class.
Steinbach’s Path to the NBA
Steinbach’s star really began to rise just two years ago when he was selected for the All-Star Team at the U-18 European Championship in Tampere, Finland, and won the first junior-level gold medal in the German Basketball Federation’s (DBB) history with the national team. Shortly before that, the big man had signed his first professional contract in Würzburg.
In the 2024–25 season, the youngster finally established himself on the BBL roster and became an indispensable part of the team by the playoffs at the latest. In the postseason, the homegrown talent averaged 14.8 points and 10.4 rebounds, and Würzburg narrowly missed reaching the finals against ratiopharm Ulm.
That summer, Steinbach won a silver medal at the U19 World Championship before going on to shine in college and finally putting himself on the radar of NBA scouts. However, the 20-year-old is still waiting for his international debut because the timing hasn’t worked out yet.
