CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Patuloy na maglalaro si Michael Kidd-Gilchrist para sa Charlotte Hornets matapos pumayag sa isang four-year, $52 million contract extension.
Kilala ang 6-foot-7 at 232-pounder na si Kidd-Gilchrist dahil sa kanyang depensa at dinagdagan ang kanyang offensive output sa nakaraang season.
Nagtala siya ng ave-rage na career-high na 10.9 points, 7.6 rebounds at 1.4 assists bagama’t nalimitahan siya sa 55 games dahil sa injuries.
Ang 21-anyos na si Kidd-Gilchrist ay No. 2 overall pick noong 2012 NBA draft sa likod ni da-ting Kentucky teammate Anthony Davis.
Masigasig na nagtrabaho si Kidd-Gilchrist noong nakaraang season sa ilalim ni dating NBA All-Star at ex-Hornets assistant coach Mark Price para mapaganda ang kanyang jump shot.
Si Price ay naging head coach ng Charlotte 49ers, ngunit pinuri si Kidd-Gilchrist dahil sa pagtitiyaga niyang mapahusay ang kanyang pagtira.
Malinaw na si Kidd-Gilchrist ang naging paborito ni Hornets coach Steve Clifford.
“He’s totally changed his shooting mechanics really more than any player I’ve ever seen,” sabi ni Clifford sa The Associated Press noong Abril. “It’s increased his confidence level. His whole leadership, assertiveness on the court and his understanding of the game has come out more for his teammates as he’s gotten more confident.”