Grading Tidjane Salaun’s Rookie Season

When the Hornets took the 19-year-old Frenchman with the sixth pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, they knew they were getting a raw prospect. A talented six-foot-eight wing player who displayed moments of athleticism and length playing alongside Victor Wembanyama in France. However, it will take some time for him to develop into the elite player Charlotte hoped he could be in the years to come. Tidjane Salaun’s rookie season can be classified as a learning curve for one of the league’s youngest players. He had to learn that the NBA is much more physical and that players can only rely on their athleticism for so long. Salaun had some good moments, but he also had some not-so-good moments.

The rookie was forced to start early due to a rash of injuries that the team had suffered. In his first start, he had 13 points, eight rebounds, and three turnovers against the New York Knicks. However, after that first start, Salaun did not show consistency with his shot selection and decision-making. The Hornets relegated him to the bench for the majority of the season. He went on to finish his first year averaging five points, four rebounds, and 19 minutes a game. Though the numbers were not impressive, his energy and effort were praised by the coaching staff. Salaun has the tools to be a big-time player for the Hornets, It will depend on time and development that the big man will need to take the next steps in his NBA career.

I would give Salaun a B+ because he was good in the games that he played, but he was not fantastic. In some moments, fans saw the potential, like getting into his defensive bag alongside Mark Williams, forcing turnovers, and using his frame to punish defenders. He also had moments where he turned the ball over and forced shots he probably shouldn’t have. Salaun hit the rookie wall more than he would have liked to, but that was expected. The Hornets are a young team on the rise, and Salaun will look to play a role in getting the team back into playoff contention.