LUBBOCK, TX – Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday night.
Anderson becomes the fourth first-round NBA Draft selection in Texas Tech history and the 26th player overall from the program to be drafted.
The sophomore earned multiple All-America honors and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team after averaging 18.5 points, 7.4 assists, 3.3 3-pointers and 1.5 steals per game during the 2025-26 season. He led the Big 12 and ranked fifth nationally in assists, setting Texas Tech single-season records with 244 total assists and a 7.4 assists-per-game average.
Anderson shot 41.5% from 3-point range, making 108 of 260 attempts. His 108 made 3-pointers rank second in program history for a single season.
A three-time Big 12 Player of the Week, Anderson scored 20 or more points in 12 games, including 27 points with five 3-pointers in a victory over No. 3 Duke at Madison Square Garden and 26 points and 11 assists against No. 17 Arkansas. He also made a career-high eight 3-pointers in a road win at Baylor.
Anderson recorded eight double-doubles during the season, including a career-high 34 points and 11 assists in the season opener against Lindenwood and 31 points with a career-best 11 rebounds in a conference win over Cincinnati. Seven of his double-doubles came through points and assists, highlighted by 19 points and a career-high 13 assists against Oklahoma State.
In two seasons with the Red Raiders, Anderson totaled 983 points, 321 assists, 179 made 3-pointers and 89 steals in 68 games. Despite playing only two seasons at Texas Tech, he finished seventh in program history in made 3-pointers and 12th in assists.
Anderson helped lead Texas Tech to a 51-22 record over the past two seasons, including a 27-11 mark in Big 12 play and consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. As a freshman, he played a key role in Texas Tech's run to the 2025 Elite Eight, scoring a season-high 22 points in a Sweet 16 victory over Arkansas.
He is the first Texas Tech player selected in the NBA Draft since Jahmi'us Ramsey was chosen in the second round in 2020. Anderson joins Tony Battie (1997), Zhaire Smith (2018) and Jarrett Culver (2019) as the program's first-round draft selections.
Among Anderson's accolades were AP Third Team All-America, USBWA Third Team All-America, Sporting News Third Team All-America, Field of 68 Third Team All-America, All-Big 12 First Team, Big 12 Most Improved Player and NABC All-Gulf District First Team honors. He was also named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team in 2024-25.
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