Ryan Kalkbrenner

Charlotte Hornets, Center
Age: 24y-1m-19d (Jan 17, 2002)
Country: US
College: Creighton
Drafted: Round 2 (#34 overall), 2025
2025-26 Cap Hit

$2,296,274

2025-26 Cash

$2,296,274

Career Earnings

$2,296,274

2025-2028 Rookie (CURRENT)

Ryan Kalkbrenner signed a 4 year, $9,968,963 contract with the Charlotte Hornets, including $4,707,364 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,492,241. In 2025-26, Kalkbrenner will earn a base salary of $2,296,274, while carrying a cap hit of $2,296,274 and a dead cap value of $2,296,274.
Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $9,968,963
Average Salary:
$2,492,241
GTD at Sign:
$4,707,364
Total GTD:
$4,707,364
Signed Using:
second-round-exception
Free Agent:
2029 / UFA
Year Age Status Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Apron Salary Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Guaranteed Cash Cumulative
2025-26 24 $2,296,274 1.48% $2,296,274 $2,296,274 1.22% $2,296,274 $2,296,274 $2,296,274
2026-27 25 $2,411,090 1.45% $2,411,090 $2,411,090 1.20% $2,411,090 $2,411,090 $4,707,364
2027-28 26 $2,525,901 1.45% $2,525,901 $2,525,901 1.19% $2,525,901 - $7,233,265
2028-29 27
Club
 $2,735,698 1.49% $2,735,698 $2,735,698 1.23% $2,735,698 - $9,968,963
2029-30 28
UFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Cap Hit Cap % League Luxury Tax
2025-26 24 $2,296,274 - - $2,296,274 1.48% $2,296,274
2026-27 25 $2,411,090 - - $2,411,090 1.45% $2,411,090
2027-28 26 $2,525,901 - - $2,525,901 1.45% $2,525,901
2028-29 27
Club
 $2,735,698 - - $2,735,698 1.49% $2,735,698
2029-30 28
UFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2025-26 24 $2,296,274 $2,296,274 $2,296,274 $9,968,963 $2,296,274 $2,492,241
2026-27 25 $2,411,090 $2,411,090 $4,707,364 $7,672,689 $2,353,682 $2,557,563
2027-28 26 $2,525,901 $2,525,901 $7,233,265 $5,261,599 $2,411,088 $2,630,800
2028-29 27
Club
 $2,735,698 $2,735,698 $9,968,963 $2,735,698 $2,492,241 $2,735,698
Contract Notes

  • 2027-28: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 6/29/27
  • 2028-29: Club Option/non-guaranteed (deadline 6/29/28), fully guaranteed 1/10/29

Source: Spotrac
Seasons

Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$2,296,274

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2025 24
Active
$2,296,274
$2,296,274
Total      
$2,296,274
$2,296,274
2026 25
Active
$2,411,090
2027 26
Active
$2,525,901
2028 27
Active / Club
$2,735,698
Total
$9,968,963
* denotes prorated cash total due to lockout season

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
1 $2,296,274 - - $2,296,274
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2025
24
$2,296,274
$2,296,274
$2,296,274
Total
$2,296,274
$2,296,274
$2,296,274
2026
25
$2,411,090
$2,411,090
2027
26
$2,525,901
$2,525,901
2028
27
$2,735,698
$2,735,698
Total
$9,968,963
$9,968,963

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
1 $2,296,274 - - $2,296,274

Injuries

Year Dates Games Missed Reason
2025-26 CHA Dec 22, 2025 - Jan 08, 2026 10 Elbow
2025-26 CHA Nov 23, 2025 - Nov 23, 2025 1 Ankle
2025-26 CHA Nov 14, 2025 - Nov 14, 2025 1 Illness
  • Jul 03, 2025 Signed a 4 year $9.97 million contract with Charlotte (CHA) via 2nd-round exception - includes 2028-29 Club Option
  • Jun 26, 2025 Drafted by Charlotte (CHA): Round 2 (#34 overall)
Year Team GP GS Min/Gm Pt/Gm Reb/Gm Ast/Gm Stl/Gm Blk/Gm FG% 3PT% FT%
2025 CHA 51 30 22.4 8.0 5.9 0.8 0.6 1.5 .754 .000 .681
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