Stand close enough to Michael Ajayi and it\u2019s not hard to visualize and ponder the possibilities.<\/p>\n
Read more 2 popular Triangle grocery stores are slashing prices. How do the costs compare?<\/a><\/p>\n Checking in at 6-foot-7 and weighing 228 pounds, the Charlotte Hornets<\/u><\/a> forward appears to have all the tools to carve out a niche in the NBA if things progress in the right direction.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why the Hornets were intrigued enough to ink the undrafted 23-year-old to a two-way contract, and he\u2019s been getting his first taste of pro basketball during the NBA\u2019s Las Vegas Summer League<\/u><\/a> the past few days.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just learning from the vets,\u201d Ajayi told The Charlotte Observer after the Hornets\u2019 87-75 loss to the Boston Celtics at Cox Pavilion on Sunday. \u201cThe vets have been through this process as a rookie, and I\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n \u201cJust getting extra work in whenever it\u2019s needed. And so just keep your head high and just keep working every day.\u201d<\/p>\n It hasn\u2019t gone unnoticed, either.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s an incredibly versatile defender,\u201d Hornets summer league coach Blaine Mueller said. \u201cOffensively for him it\u2019s about simplification, understanding his role, what\u2019s being asked of him. What he did at Butler is very different than what he\u2019s going to do in the NBA. What got him there is not going to get him to that next space, and he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cUse your gifts in terms of your athleticism and ability to finish above the rim. He\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In driving the point home, Mueller broke it down in a unique way.<\/p>\n \u201cThe metaphor I use is like there\u2019s a box,\u201d Muller said. \u201cYou can either look at it like we\u2019re putting you in a box or you can look at it like we\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n Read more 3 Wake schools deemed unsafe for students. Can they be fixed before classes start?<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cGuys love being around him. He\u2019s super coachable. He works hard, he\u2019s a professional in terms of how he prepares, how he watches film, how he takes care of his body. So, he\u2019s going to have an opportunity in this league for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cMe being on a two-way, it\u2019s either a make or a break deal,\u201d Ajayi said. \u201cSo, people think, there\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what he\u2019s trying to allow me to do, and I\u2019m just going to take full advantage of it. Just giving the key to the box. I\u2019m not looking as a negative thing, I\u2019m looking as a positive thing going forward into my career as a rookie. And so I\u2019m just going to build off of that and then sky\u2019s the limit.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAt Butler, he was kind of a featured player,\u201d Mueller said. \u201cHe\u2019d get ISOs, he\u2019d post up because he could physically overwhelm a matchup in college that he\u2019s not going to be able to do at this level.<\/p>\n \u201cIf teams aren\u2019t going to guard him because they don\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Given his track record and the journey just arriving at this point, there is little doubt Ajayi will heed those words. He\u2019s been dreaming of it dating back to his high school days in Washington, traversing a winding path that\u2019s landed him with the Hornets.<\/p>\n \u201cHigh school, played one year varsity, then I went to JUCO and I went to Division I,\u201d Ajayi said. \u201cSo, just keeping that mindset just to keep working, grinding, just be the hardest worker. And so that\u2019s what I\u2019ve been at each level and I just took me this far. And so I wasn\u2019t going let up and just trusting God.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 5:00 AM<\/span> with the headline “How Charlotte Hornets are setting up Michael Ajayi for long-term success.” <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n