How Hornets’ Tidjane Salaun plans on using summer months to ‘be a monster’
Facing a critical juncture on the path of NBA development, Tidjane Salaün understands the assignment in front of him over the coming weeks.
As the Charlotte Hornets’ 2024 first-round pick navigates the summer months leading into his third year, there are several tasks on Salaün’s offseason list that must be checkmarked. Polishing certain areas and improving in a variety of ways is a necessity in order to ensure he elbows himself into a meaningful role in coach Charles Lee’s rotation during the 2026-27 campaign.
Prioritizing training for physical and skill evolution is paramount.
“It’s a big offseason, so I will keep working on my body,” Salaün told The Charlotte Observer. “That’s the main thing — be more physical. With my defensive impact but also on offense, I can grow and be more impactful. And I have to just keep doing my thing by shooting when I’m open, keep rebounding and keep guarding the ball or be big on the shift. All this type of stuff.
“But the main thing is just improve to help my team win, but also individually be a better player, a better man. And it’s only the beginning of my journey.”
Selected sixth overall in a draft headlined by fellow Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr going to Atlanta and Washington, respectively, the 20-year-old Paris native is coming off easily the best of his two seasons.
Salaün averaged six points and four rebounds in 37 appearances, which were on par with the 5.9 points and 4.7 rebounds he put up per outing in 2024-25. But the most noticeable difference in Year 2 for Salaün stemmed from his shooting percentages.
After connecting on 40% of his overall attempts and 28.3% from 3-point range as a rookie, Salaün nailed 50.3% from the field and 43.4% beyond the arc. His 65% mark at the free-throw line took a dip from the 71.3 % showing of his rookie season and has to get better.
But that noticeable leap is a direct result of the experience — and confidence — gained during his stints in the G League with the Greensboro Swarm.
“Just the first one I had with them in November, that helped me a lot,” Salaün said. “Just to understand my role and the fact to have all these minutes, these reps that was very meaningful for me. And Coach (Lee) was still engaged even if I wasn’t with the team to give me feedback or even my personal coaches. Everybody was still engaged. Even the staff with the Swarm, they were the greatest. They were helpful for me.
“And even (Swarm coach) D.J. Bakker, he did a great job to have film a session with me after every game or before every game. So, I cannot remove all of this. This is the best moment of this season. How much I will be willing to be the greatest, how badly I want to be back and how badly I want to help the team. That was the goal of those months with them.”
It’s what Salaün must do to prove he’s ready. He always had the confidence. But he showed signs in his sophomore NBA campaign, better deciphering when to make the proper basketball play instead of forcing things.
Lee has already given him the blueprint regarding what he’s looking for from Salaün if he intends on inserting his name into the hat for meaningful minutes.
With several veterans in front of him in the current rotation, Lee explained the situation to Salaün and how he can go about catapulting himself into the mix more frequently.
“I’ve got to do my job, so it’s closely guard the ball — just defensive impact,” Salaün said. “Crash the ball, rebound offensively, defensively. And on offense, play the game. So, shoot when I have to shoot, drive when I have to drive, and make good reads. Either it’s for a pass or finish, but also on the screening impact. So, make good screens, help my teammates to get open. All of this is part of my job right now.
“That’s what he wants me to do, and he told me I did a good job on it, and I’ve just got to keep going and be even better for the next season. And this offseason is why I’m here. Because it’s just because I’m a hard worker and that’s what I’m going to do and be a monster for the next season.”
Salaün has had to adapt to plenty since arriving on this side of the pond, leaving Europe and most of what he’s known for the better portion of his life. He’s become acclimated to the difference in the level of competition along with how things work in the States as opposed to France.
It’s all aiding in his metamorphosis on and off the court.
“First, I would say this is the land of basketball,” Salaün said. “Everybody knows we have the best technologies here just to be better physically, so that helps you to be comfortable on the court. America is not so different from France in my opinion. I’m simple enough, so I don’t go out so much. I can’t really say something about the cities. But just the fact that I learn English and often talk with my teammates, with the coach, that helped me to be more comfortable.
“But also just watching games, that helped me to be even smarter but also know what I’m talking about on the court. So, this is all about the job and I’m putting 100% of my effort in it to be the greatest possible. And all of this is America. I love it. I can feel that I’m a better player but also a better person.”
This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "How Hornets’ Tidjane Salaun plans on using summer months to ‘be a monster’."
