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.
Draft Surprise: Knicks’ 2nd-Round Pick is Creating Good Problems
Tyler Kolek in College
Kolek was one of the college basketball’s best passers 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 seasons. Kolek lit up the court at Marquette, nailing over 38% of his three-pointers in his last two seasons and capping off his college 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.
Tyler Kolek in Summer League
In the two games he’s played in 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 from. 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.
The Knicks Bench Needs Tyler Kolek
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, etc. Neither Miles McBride nor Cam Payne are floor generals like Tyler Kolek. They are both combo guards who are scorers first and foremost.
Knicks’ Good “Problems”
The Knicks guard rotation: 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.
The Last Word
Tyler 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.
