Former Red Raider Makes History in Hornets Debut

Texas Tech has a habit of creating winners in their own field, and sports is no exception. Whether it's football, volleyball, softball, or basketball, Red Raiders continue to make their mark on the world.

Our latest example of this is the recent NBA draft selection of Christian Anderson Jr. to the Charlotte Hornets. This happened to be the first time in university history that a Red Raider was selected by Charlotte. To make the situation even more exciting, Anderson is set to make his NBA debut tonight, October 21.

As we root for this incredible former Red Raider, let's look at how he earned a spot in the highest level of basketball.

Christian Anderson Jr. at Texas Tech

Anderson spent two seasons at Tech, honing his skills as a sharpshooter on the court. In fact, during the 2025-2026 season, he averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 assists, and 3.3 3-pointers.

To put this into perspective, the top 10 NBA players in the 2026-2027 preseason averaged 19 points or higher, meaning that, as a sophomore, Anderson almost cracked the top 10 in average points within the national league.

Also as a sophomore, Anderson broke the university's record with a massive 108 3-pointers made in just one season.

By the time he finished his two seasons at Tech, he boasted a total of 983 points, 321 assists, and 179 made 3-pointers in 68 games played. This put him at No. 7 in program history with the total 3-pointers, and No. 3 overall with 4.72 assists per game.

Anderson's NBA Debut

Looking at his ascension to the national league, Christian Anderson Jr. was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets as the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.

The Hornets kick off the 2026 regular season on Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. with an away game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Last season, Charlotte finished at 44-38: No. 9 in the Eastern Conference, so let's see how high Anderson can take the team this go-around.

Let's hear it for Christian Anderson as he makes Texas Tech proud during his NBA debut!