The Charlotte Hornets selected Texas Tech point guard Christian Anderson with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Anderson, a 20-year-old German national team player, enters the NBA following a breakout sophomore season where he averaged 18.5 points and 7.4 assists per game.
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The 6-foot-1 guard earned All-Big 12 first-team honors and was named the conference's Most Improved Player after leading Texas Tech to the Sweet 16.
His selection follows workouts with multiple teams, including the Chicago Bulls, who hosted Anderson alongside guards Labaron Philon Jr. and Meleek Thomas.
Despite concerns from some evaluators regarding his smaller physical frame and defensive limitations, Anderson's offensive capabilities solidified his position as a first-round selection.
College Career Highlights
Statistically, Anderson ranked fifth nationally in assists and set a Texas Tech single-season record with 244 assists during the 2025-26 season.
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He recorded high shooting efficiency, registering 47.2 percent from the field, 41.5 percent from three-point range on 7.9 attempts per game, and 80.5 percent from the free-throw line.
At the NBA scouting combine, Anderson measured a 6-foot-6.25 wingspan and recorded a 40.5-inch vertical leap, addressing some physical questions from scouts.
His offensive versatility allows him to operate effectively in ball-screen actions, grading in the 93rd percentile in pick-and-roll ball-handling efficiency according to Synergy Sports.
Anderson joins a Charlotte backcourt rotation featuring LaMelo Ball, providing depth for a Hornets franchise that attempted the second-most three-pointers in the league last season.
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Anderson's selection came immediately after Charlotte drafted Washington center Hannes Steinbach with the 14th overall pick.
