2025-26 Season
RYAN KALKBRENNER
2025-26 Season
RYAN KALKBRENNER
Kalkbrenner produces at an above average rate for a 21-minute workload.
Kalkbrenner produces at an above average rate for a 21-minute workload.
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 17 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 93 Centers with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Ryan Kalkbrenner defined the start of his 2025-26 season as the ultimate low-usage, hyper-efficient anchor. Look at his flawless performance on 11/13 vs MIL, where he poured in 17 points on 8-for-8 shooting and grabbed nine boards to generate a massive +22.6 Impact score. He dominated the paint through immaculate shot selection and relentless work on the glass rather than demanding offensive touches. Even when his scoring completely vanished, his sheer size and defensive effort kept him firmly in the green. During a quiet two-point outing on 11/02 vs UTA, he still managed a +1.4 Impact score simply by deterring shots at the rim and anchoring the half-court defense. However, his limited offensive bag occasionally dragged down the lineup when opponents exploited his lack of versatility. On 12/13 vs CHI, he scored an efficient 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting, but a -3.2 Impact score exposed the hidden costs of sluggish rotational defense and clunky floor spacing. He is a highly effective traditional big, but his ceiling remains firmly capped by a strictly interior game.
A dizzying pendulum swing between highly efficient interior play and complete invisibility defined this stretch for Kalkbrenner. When fully engaged, his pristine shot selection made him a devastating weapon, peaking on 01/19 vs DEN when he poured in 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting to generate a massive +14.6 Impact. He didn't always need a heavy scoring load to tilt the floor, either. On 02/05 vs HOU, he managed a strong +4.0 Impact despite scoring just two points, utilizing his size to grab four rebounds and battle defensively while his offense sputtered. Yet, for every masterclass in physical positioning, there were nights where his lack of aggression severely punished the lineup. Look no further than his brutal -12.5 Impact on 01/13 vs LAC, a game where he logged just two points and zero rebounds in 13 minutes of uninspired cardio. If he wants to be a reliable rotation fixture, he has to stop floating through games and start imposing his will on the glass every single night.
This late-season stretch was defined by maddening volatility, with Ryan Kalkbrenner looking like a hyper-efficient interior weapon one night and completely invisible the next. When he aggressively hunted his spots around the rim, the results were excellent. Look at his 03/10 vs POR performance, where he poured in 13 points and grabbed six rebounds on 6-of-8 shooting, generating a massive +9.6 Impact score by finishing plays and controlling the paint. He followed a similar script on 03/19 vs ORL, logging a +7.2 Impact by converting all five of his field goal attempts to tally 13 points. However, when his teammates stopped feeding him or he stopped fighting for positioning, his value absolutely plummeted. During the 03/28 vs PHI matchup, Kalkbrenner managed just four points and a single rebound in 18 minutes. That passive cardio session resulted in a brutal -9.9 Impact, exposing the hidden cost of a big man who fails to anchor the glass or command defensive attention when the offense ignores him.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Boom-or-bust player. Kalkbrenner's impact swings wildly relative to his average — some nights dominant, others invisible. Scoring varies by ~4 points per game.
Reliable shooter — hits 45%+ from the field in 96% of games. You can count on efficient nights more often than not.
Defensive difference-maker. Kalkbrenner consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Performance has dropped off. First-half impact: +3.0, second-half: -0.1. Worth watching whether it's fatigue, injury, or opponents adjusting.
MATCHUP HISTORY ⚠ Updated 46 days ago
Based on 65 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
71 games played
