Key Highlights

• New York Knicks’ second-round pick, Tyler Kolek, shows exceptional playmaking abilities in NBA Summer League.
• Kolek’s seamless transition from college to professional level highlights his potential as a valuable guard for the Knicks.
• The Knicks’ guard rotation now boasts a variety of skill sets with the addition of Kolek, enhancing their offensive and defensive capabilities.
• Kolek’s crucial performance against the Sacramento Kings showcases his potential to be a game-deciding player.

(NicePlay Sports) – In the ever-competitive landscape of the NBA, finding a gem in the second round of the draft is akin to striking gold in a crowded mine. Tyler Kolek, drafted by the New York Knicks at pick No. 34, has rapidly ascended from being an overlooked prospect to a pivotal player in the NBA Summer League. His story is a testament to resilience and skill, and his performance in the Summer League has given the Knicks a delightful dilemma: how to fit this emerging talent into their already stacked guard rotation. Kolek’s journey to the NBA was not straightforward. Major sports outlets like The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, and ESPN had predicted him to go in the first round, yet he slipped to the second round. This unexpected turn of events might be a blessing in disguise for the Knicks. In just two Summer League games, Kolek has showcased the very talents that made him a standout at Marquette: exceptional passing, court vision, and a knack for making clutch plays. His 21-point performance against the Sacramento Kings, capped by a game-winning free throw, is a clear indicator of his potential to impact games at the professional level. The Knicks have long been searching for a reliable playmaker to support their mainstay, Jalen Brunson. Kolek’s playmaking abilities, evidenced by his 14 assists without a single turnover in his first two games, make him a prime candidate to fill this role. However, his journey is far from over, and the Knicks must now navigate the complexities of integrating him into a roster brimming with talent. Kolek’s emergence is not just a personal triumph but also a strategic advantage for the Knicks, offering them a versatile guard capable of elevating their second unit. As the Summer League progresses, all eyes will be on how Kolek continues to develop and how the Knicks plan to leverage their newfound asset.

Drafting an Unexpected Gem

Tyler Kolek wasn’t supposed to fall to the second round. The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, and CBSSports all pegged him for the Phoenix Suns at 22. The Ringer had the Knicks snapping him up at 24, Bleacher Report going 25 to the Knicks, and ESPN saw him slipping to the Utah Jazz at 29. Ultimately, Kolek fell to pick No. 34, where the Knicks drafted him after a trade with Portland. Now, two Summer League games later, Kolek is showing similar flashes to the player he was in college. His emergence, alongside the Knicks signing Cam Payne, creates an abundance of riches for the Knicks at the guard spots.

Kolek’s College Brilliance

Kolek was one of the best passers in college basketball during his tenure at Marquette. He led college basketball in assists per game last season and came third in the 2022-23 season. Kolek’s improvement as a passer and scorer over the past two seasons helped Marquette win 20+ games per season after four challenging seasons. He lit up the court at Marquette, nailing over 38% of his three-pointers in his last two seasons and capping off his collegiate career with a 35.5% rate from beyond the arc. His lack of size and speed was the biggest knock against him. Furthermore, his age meant that his room for growth was not as large as other prospects.

Summer League Success

In the two games he’s played in the Summer League, Kolek has 14 assists against no turnovers. His ability to know where his teammates are present is on constant display. He has used the drive-and-kick to great success, forcing the defense to collapse on his drive and then kicking it out to the open man. Kolek is shifty in his movements and can prove to be a great asset to the Knicks’ second unit. Unfortunately, his defensive struggles are as advertised. Lack of foot speed hampers him on that end, and switching onto bigger guards allows them to shoot over him. His shooting has also deserted him. He has been good inside the arc, shooting 57.1%. But the biggest worry has been his three-ball, where he has shot just 1 for 7. This could be a slump because of his prowess from three in college, but Kolek will have to improve his numbers in the two games left.

Filling a Critical Gap

The Knicks as a team averaged the second-least assists per game last season at 24.4. Jalen Brunson was their only playmaker for much of the season because of Julius Randle‘s injury. Tyler Kolek’s transition as a playmaker from college to the NBA has been seamless, giving the Knicks a floor general that their second unit desperately needed. When Brunson sat on the bench, their offense came to a halt. According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, “In 39 games post-trade, the Knicks are averaging 121.2 points per 100 possessions when Brunson is on the court. For perspective, that would be the second-best figure in the NBA if it belonged to a team. When Brunson is on the bench, that number craters to 102.9, which would be the league’s worst offense in three seasons.” For the 2023-24 season, the Knicks’ offensive rating without Brunson was 108.6. This accounts for when Randle was healthy, and Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett were on the team. When Brunson sat, their offensive rating ranked 29th in the NBA, below teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, and others. Neither Miles McBride nor Cam Payne are floor generals like Tyler Kolek. They are both combo guards who are scorers first and foremost.

The Guard Conundrum

The Knicks’ guard rotation now includes Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Miles McBride, Cam Payne, and Tyler Kolek. They have a guard rotation that can do whatever the situation dictates. Need a bucket? Check. 30-foot heave? Check. Throw an entry pass? Check. Lockdown defense? Check. This variety in skill sets among their guards allows them to test out multiple combinations and run different offenses with different guys on the floor. Kolek’s playmaking abilities will help the Knicks take their offense to an elite level. The Knicks won 50 games despite Brunson being their only playmaker for over 35 games, and adding a backup who can set shooters up, find open men, and create shots is a luxury the Knicks now have. Kolek is surrounded by lights-out shooters from anywhere on the court. All he has to do is give them just enough space to create their shot or find them open in the corner.

The Game Winner

Tyler Kolek called game. After the Knicks erased an early 10-point Sacramento Kings’ lead to take an 11-point lead of their own on Wednesday, and after the Kings wiped New York’s advantage clean on a go-ahead Keon Ellis three to take a two-point lead with seven seconds left in the fourth quarter, the ball — as it’s done so many times to start the 2024 Las Vegas Summer League — found its way into Kolek’s hands. On the previous Knicks possession, Kolek was in the right place at the right time, coming up with a key offensive rebound and floating the ball in to give New York a 103-102 lead. After Ellis drained a would-be game-winning three, the Knicks had time for one more play. So Kolek, the No. 34 pick out of Marquette in the 2024 NBA Draft, received a handoff from Ariel Hukporti, pick No. 58, at the right wing and drove into Kings forward Mason Jones. He took Jones from the top of the key all the way to the rim, then finished through contact and over weak-side shot-blocker Isaac Jones off the glass through the net. And then came the late whistle. Kolek would head to the line for a game-winning free throw. The rookie point guard nailed it, tallying a Summer League career-high 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting to go with eight assists to keep the Kings at bay in a 106-105 victory, New York’s first in Las Vegas. After scoring seven points in each of his first two Vegas outings, Kolek tripled his output Wednesday afternoon. And after going the first two games without recording a turnover, Kolek gave it away four times against the Kings. Turnovers are to be expected of the player who has handled the lion’s share of the Knicks’ playmaking responsibility in Las Vegas. What was unclear after two disappointing losses was whether or not this team could find a way to victory. On Kolek’s back, the Vegas Knicks did just that. Kolek had help. Rokas Jokubaitis shot a perfect seven-of-seven from the field for 16 points, five assists, and two steals in 21 minutes off the bench on Wednesday. He, too, turned the ball over three times, the Knicks tallying 15 giveaways as a team, five fewer than their stinker in Tuesday’s loss to the Nets. Jokubaitis, however, is a three-level scorer at the guard spot who can create for others and knock down the open three. The Knicks selected the Lithuanian guard with the 34th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, two slots ahead of Miles McBride at pick No. 36. He played in the 2021 Summer League then signed a contract with Barcelona, but has now rejoined the Knicks in the summertime after the Lithuanian men’s national basketball team failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Jokubaitis is nearing a deal to return to Euroleague club Zalgiris Kaunas, the team he played for before joining Barcelona, according to BasketNews. He could play his way into a roster spot on the Knicks, either on a two-way deal or securing one of the final open spots on a stacked team in pursuit of a championship. For what it’s worth, the Knicks just added another guard in veteran scorer Cameron Payne, marking four on the roster with Kolek, Jalen Brunson, and McBride, plus another in Donte DiVincenzo, who projects to come off the bench behind Mikal Bridges. Which means even if the Knicks did add Jokubaitis to the roster, it would be difficult to find minutes for him. It would be equally as difficult to find minutes for Pacome Dadiet. Dadiet shot two-of-eight in the opener against the Charlotte Hornets, four-of-13 in the loss to the Nets, then just one-of-four for just two points in the win over the Kings. He has the talent and raw athletic gifts to be a contributor at the NBA level, but at 18 years old, he needs time to develop. Thankfully, Summer League is for development, and Dadiet doesn’t have to worry about contributing right away: He’ll have the luxury of learning from wings like DiVincenzo, Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart. The Knicks, however, will take the wins as they come, even if they’ve come sparingly in Summer League. Even if they come on the back of pick No. 34, because today’s second-round pick could be the player the Knicks are leaning on for a victory tomorrow.