For the first time in several years, the The New York Knicks“The rotation could include a rookie who was drafted the same year. Point guard Tyler Kolek was drafted early in the second round by the Portland Trail Blazers and immediately traded to the Knicks, and after a breakout performance in Summer League where he averaged seven assists per game, many believe New York has one of the best bargains in the draft.
Tyler Kolek is very talented, but the Knicks may not have a consistent spot for him in 2024
Despite that, the Knicks’ rotation is very deep, meaning there’s simply no obvious path for Kolek to receive significant playing time. Fred Katz of The Athletic He compared the situation to Miles McBride, a player who was drafted in the second round but didn’t get a serious opportunity for a few years. He added that Kolek will get his chance at some point because head coach Tom Thibodeau is fascinated by his style of play.
“I imagine Kolek will be on the bench for most of this season. He’ll get his chance eventually,” Katz wrote. “Thibodeau is a big fan and lobbied for the Knicks to draft him. But like McBride, who the Knicks drafted in the second round a few years ago before he finally became a starter in 2024, that chance might not come anytime soon.”
McBride’s playing time was mostly sporadic over his first three seasons, as Immanuel Quickley was the backup point guard. Once Quickley left as part of the OG Anunoby trade, it opened up a spot for McBride to showcase his talents on a regular basis, and he’s since become a reliable backup who provides elite perimeter defense and the ability to catch fire from three-point range.
Kolek’s lack of defensive versatility is a major weakness
So it would take a lot for Kolek to take away McBride’s playing time next season. Kolek is an exceptional offensive player with great passing skills and can knock down three-pointers. However, his small size and lack of defense hurt his chances of making a splash on a Thibodeau-led team.
The Knicks could benefit from Kolek’s play, as they were one of the worst teams in the league last season and struggled to score when Jalen Brunson wasn’t on the court. But it’s still reasonable to gradually integrate him into the NBA landscape, as college and summer leagues are very different from the big stage.
It remains to be seen how the Knicks will handle Kolek on the roster. If he performs well in training camp and the preseason, he could be a big part of the group right away. If not, he may have to wait a little longer before getting his first big NBA chance.
