By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The sixth pick of the 2024 NBA draft, Tidjane Salaun delivered a solid showing in his first preseason appearance with the Charlotte Hornets.
The 19-year-old French forward scored 11 points with 4/8 field goals, including 3/5 from beyond the arc. Logging 22 minutes in a losing effort against the New York Knicks in Spectrum Center, he also pulled down one rebound.
“He must simplify his game. It is a process,” mentioned Hornets head coach Charles Lee, “You have to be able to have really good, consistent, and efficient off-ball habits. I think he kind of settled into that.”
The Paris native, the Best Young player of the 2023-24 Basketball Champions League season, recently discussed adjusting to the NBA.
“He has a tendency in camp sometimes to slash too much or clog the paint. He really trusted all the work that he has put in. He found himself some good catch-and-shoot opportunities. Outside of the competitiveness, you saw more of his fearlessness. That is who he is. That is why he is going to be a game-changer for this organization,” Lee added to the praise of Salaun.
More European players for the Hornets in the loss, 111-109, to the Knicks, Serbian guard Vasilije Micic went for eight points, five assists and three rebounds, and French Moussa Diabate had five points, three rebounds, two assists and one block. On the winning end, British forward O.G. Anunoby chipped in four points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
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