Stand close enough to Michael Ajayi and it’s not hard to visualize and ponder the possibilities.
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Checking in at 6-foot-7 and weighing 228 pounds, the Charlotte Hornets forward appears to have all the tools to carve out a niche in the NBA if things progress in the right direction.
That’s why the Hornets were intrigued enough to ink the undrafted 23-year-old to a two-way contract, and he’s been getting his first taste of pro basketball during the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League the past few days.
“I’m just learning from the vets,” Ajayi told The Charlotte Observer after the Hornets’ 87-75 loss to the Boston Celtics at Cox Pavilion on Sunday. “The vets have been through this process as a rookie, and I’ve got to learn from them and just trust in the process, what the coach wants me to do. Do it exactly how it is, execute the game plan.
“Just getting extra work in whenever it’s needed. And so just keep your head high and just keep working every day.”
It hasn’t gone unnoticed, either.
The Hornets believe Ajayi has elite physical and tools highlighted by size, athleticism, wingspan, quickness and strength. A product of Butler, he fits right into their philosophy of positionless basketball given he can defend all five positions, making him a potentially valuable asset on that side of the ball.
Ajayi can be utilized as a switcher on defense, taking on roles such as guarding the ball handler or the opposing big. The Hornets have experimented with his assignments in training camp leading into summer league as well as game action here in the desert, including keeping him on specific offensive threats or involving him in complex switching schemes.
“He’s an incredibly versatile defender,” Hornets summer league coach Blaine Mueller said. “Offensively for him it’s about simplification, understanding his role, what’s being asked of him. What he did at Butler is very different than what he’s going to do in the NBA. What got him there is not going to get him to that next space, and he’s been so receptive and responding to that messaging in terms of just simplifying close-out reads, crash the offensive glass, being elite screener on and off the ball roll.
“Use your gifts in terms of your athleticism and ability to finish above the rim. He’s a pretty good passer when he catches it and can read the game rotations come like he can make plays, he can pass like big, big with our spacing and find guys on the perimeter.”
Mueller emphasized those points in a chat with Ajayi before the team made its way out West for summer league action. The two sat down and watched film, all so Mueller could be hands-on in showing Ajayi exactly what the Hornets are looking for from him.
Charlotte wants Ajayi to embrace the role as a connector, continue to adapt and thrive as a screener, decision-maker, and off-ball mover within team offense.
In driving the point home, Mueller broke it down in a unique way.
“The metaphor I use is like there’s a box,” Muller said. “You can either look at it like we’re putting you in a box or you can look at it like we’re giving you the keys to unlock this box in terms of you being able to make it. And then above all, honestly, he has an incredibly vibrant energy.
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“Guys love being around him. He’s super coachable. He works hard, he’s a professional in terms of how he prepares, how he watches film, how he takes care of his body. So, he’s going to have an opportunity in this league for a while.”
Ajayi took the side session with Mueller to heart. When The Observer mentioned Muller relaying that story and the discussion the duo had was broached, Ajayi began beaming.
“Me being on a two-way, it’s either a make or a break deal,” Ajayi said. “So, people think, there’s a certain box you need to put in. Like coaches just put you in and all just stand in the corner and just be stagnant. And no, the reality is trying to fit in where you know what the coach wants you to do. And what the coach wants me to do is defend at a high level and rebound and when I get an open shot, just shoot it.
“That’s what he’s trying to allow me to do, and I’m just going to take full advantage of it. Just giving the key to the box. I’m not looking as a negative thing, I’m looking as a positive thing going forward into my career as a rookie. And so I’m just going to build off of that and then sky’s the limit.”
Ajayi finished his five-year collegiate career with a graduate season at Butler, averaging 16.4 points, a Big East Conference-leading 11.1 rebounds, along with 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.6 minutes per game. He started all 32 outings, garnering an All-Big East selection and an AP All-American honorable mention.
“At Butler, he was kind of a featured player,” Mueller said. “He’d get ISOs, he’d post up because he could physically overwhelm a matchup in college that he’s not going to be able to do at this level.
“If teams aren’t going to guard him because they don’t respect his shooting, he needs to be involved in actions and understand what he needs to do to force them to guard, to force them to switch, force them to operate.”
Given his track record and the journey just arriving at this point, there is little doubt Ajayi will heed those words. He’s been dreaming of it dating back to his high school days in Washington, traversing a winding path that’s landed him with the Hornets.
“High school, played one year varsity, then I went to JUCO and I went to Division I,” Ajayi said. “So, just keeping that mindset just to keep working, grinding, just be the hardest worker. And so that’s what I’ve been at each level and I just took me this far. And so I wasn’t going let up and just trusting God.
“I’m a big believer in God and trusting His plan not only for me but for everybody else. Just trusting Him and leaning on Him towards my goals.”
This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline “How Charlotte Hornets are setting up Michael Ajayi for long-term success.”
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