Knicks Second-Year Guard Becomes Talk of the Big Apple
When fans think of New York Knicks basketball, names like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns typically come to mind. Tyler Kolek is not usually among the first mentioned. Entering the season, the second-year guard was viewed as a developmental piece. He wasn’t expected to be an immediate contributor for a Knicks team with postseason aspirations in the Eastern Conference.
At the start of the season, Kolek did not crack coach Mike Brown’s regular rotation, seeing action primarily in late-game situations when outcomes were already decided. That changed quickly after an injury to second-unit guard Miles McBride, which forced the Knicks to adjust their rotation. Kolek was thrust into meaningful minutes and responded with poise beyond his experience level. From that point on, he emerged as a key contributor in guiding New York to its first NBA Emirates Cup title, an achievement that added a defining moment to the franchise’s regular-season success.
Kolek, a second-round pick out of Marquette, entered the league with an accomplished collegiate résumé. During his college career, he averaged 12 points, four rebounds, and seven assists, while shooting 44% from the field and 35% from three-point range. Originally a transfer from George Mason University, Kolek developed into one of the nation’s top guards at Marquette. He became a consensus All-American and earned Big East Player of the Year honors during the 2022–23 season, solidifying his reputation as a high-IQ floor general capable of running an offense as a PG when needed.
After a win against the Orlando Magic, the Knicks headed to the NBA Emirates Cup Championship Game against the San Antonio Spurs. In that game, Kolek delivered one of his most efficient performances of the season. He scored 14 points while adding five rebounds and five assists in just 20 minutes of action, providing energy and stability off the bench. He followed that effort with a breakout performance against the Indiana Pacers, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists to record the first double-double of his NBA career. Across those two games, Kolek posted a plus-minus of 27, the highest mark among all players on the Knicks’ roster during that stretch.
While the early Kolek hype has cooled as he scored a combined eight points in his last two outings against the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat, the Knicks may have uncovered a valuable long-term piece in the second-year guard. With New York primarily operating a nine-man rotation as it competes near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, Kolek appears to have moved ahead of free-agent acquisition Guerschon Yabusele, whom the organization has reportedly explored moving ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline. What once seemed like an uphill battle for minutes alongside fellow 2024 draft classmate Pacome Dadiet has taken a surprising turn. It’s evolved into a compelling underdog story that continues to unfold as the season progresses.
