By Sam Perley

Like any person’s first job out of college, rookie NBA players like Frank Kaminsky have to deal with an assortment of highs and lows as they navigate through their inaugural year amongst the professional ranks. The process can be exceptionally more challenging, both mentally and physically, than anything these players have encountered in college, particularly with the steep increase in NBA games and travel. Kaminsky has certainly made strides during his first season in Charlotte, which shouldn’t be going unnoticed or unrecognized as the Hornets start gearing up for postseason play.

Kaminsky was selected ninth overall in last summer’s NBA Draft after spending the last four years at the University of Wisconsin, where he helped lead the Badgers to consecutive Final Fours in 2014 and 2015. Nowadays, a four-year senior taken in the top 10 of the draft is considered a rarity as those spots have lately been unofficially reserved for the potential-abundant one-and-done players. While perhaps more physically developed than others in his draft class, Kaminsky believes his mental game has probably improved the most this season.

“It’s been an up-and-down year but I think I made the most progress on the defensive end,” he said. “I came in not knowing any of the concepts. [I] struggled with it at first but I’ve gotten a lot better as the season’s gone on.”

Hornets Head Coach Steve Clifford echoed similar sentiments to Kaminsky’s self-evaluation.

“I think the big thing [Kaminsky has improved on] is the understanding of NBA defense [and] what he has to do in order to play well at the [power forward] spot. In many ways, that spot is the most difficult to play,” said Clifford. “I think understanding pick-and-roll coverages and the team defense [is what] he’s really done a good job with.”

Despite his experience in big-time games at the collegiate level (which also included a National Championship game appearance in 2015), Kaminsky doesn’t believe that element will factor in much come playoff time.

“I don’t know if there’s much carryover between the college game and the NBA playoffs,” he said. “I was able to make a run in college last year. We were bigger and better than a lot of teams. This year in the NBA, there’s not really any of that. I like playing in big games, playoffs and stuff like that but [the postseason will] be a whole new experience for me.”

Kaminsky’s numbers might appear modest at first glance compared to other rookies, but much of that is predicated on one’s situation. Players picked in the top half of the NBA draft generally are selected by lesser-established teams that are in need of an immediate talent upgrade, which thus provides more opportunities for rookies. More accomplished teams like Golden State and San Antonio have limited minutes for rookies based on all the talent already in place on the depth chart.

Kaminsky is currently ranked 10th in scoring (7.2 points) and 11th in blocks (0.53), three-point percentage (32.4 percent) and minutes (20.8) amongst all first-year players. His field-goal percentage (42.2 percent) and three-point percentage (36.4 percent) in March were also the highest and second-highest averages, respectively, of any month so far in his rookie season. As it stands now, he will also likely be the second-highest picked player in last summer’s draft to be appearing in the upcoming NBA playoffs behind only Stanley Johnson, who was selected eighth overall by the Detroit Pistons.

“It’s awesome to come in and be a part of a playoff team [and] a team that’s played well. We’ve had our highs and lows during the season. It’s been a ton of fun. I couldn’t have asked for a better situation,” he says.

He might not be the most-talked about rookie in the NBA, but make no mistake that Kaminsky has come a long way since first stepping foot in Time Warner Cable Arena. Making his debut during one of the franchise’s best seasons in recent memory also helps establish the concept of a winning culture from the ground up as the Hornets continue to improve and develop their core rotation. With hopefully more players like Kaminsky coming into the picture for the Hornets, the future in Charlotte looks bright with perhaps additional playoff appearances looming on the horizon.

Key Matchup vs. 76ers: Nicolas Batum vs. Hollis Thompson

For the second time this week (and final time this season), Nicolas Batum and the Hornets will square off against Hollis Thompson and the 76ers when they meet on Friday night at Time Warner Cable Arena… Batum will look to build on a superb showing against Philadelphia on Tuesday night when he tallied game highs in scoring (19 points), rebounding (12) and assists (12) for his second triple-double of the season… The eighth-year veteran could spend most of his time guarding Hollis Thompson, who will be attempting to bounce back from a dreadful 2-of-11 shooting performance against the Hornets… The former Georgetown Hoya also scored in double figures in 12 of 15 games in March with averages of 12.3 points on 38.6 percent shooting, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists across this stretch… The Hornets would love to see more of the same from Batum as they continue to build postseason momentum by welcoming Thompson and the 76ers to Charlotte on Friday night.

Key Matchup vs. Cavaliers: Marvin Williams vs. LeBron James

It’ll be all hands on deck as Marvin Williams leads the Hornets into Cleveland to take on LeBron James and the Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers in a Sunday afternoon matinee… Williams seems to have shaken off a recently-suffered sprained ankle, notching 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over Charlotte’s last two games in what continues to be a resurgent season for the 11th-year power forward… The Hornets will likely utilize Williams along with a combination of Courtney Lee and Nicolas Batum against superstar LeBron James when he is on the floor for the Cavaliers… James is averaging 25.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists this year and remains one of the most challenging players in the league to guard based on his versatility and size… With the regular season winding down and playoffs soon heating up, Williams and the Hornets will be provided a great late-season test when they square off against James and the Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon.