Tyler Kolek, the rookie guard selected by the Knicks in the second round of the NBA draft, had an up-and-down summer after the team traded away three future second-round picks to acquire his rights on selection night. Kolek struggled with his shooting in the early rounds of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, but improved as the competition progressed, averaging 9.6 points and 7.0 rebounds. He shot only 35.6% from the field and 31.6% from three, but for a guard with an excellent shooting resume from his final two seasons at Marquette—he averaged 48.4% from the field and 39.3% from three, averaging 14.0 points—a brief summer slump is not a major problem.
More important is that Kolek showed strong floor leadership, a key for him earning a role with the Knicks—which, some suggest, is already in the offing despite coach Tom Thibodeau’s well-known allergy to playing rookies
But Kolek left an impression in Vegas, so much so that he is already being labeled a “draft steal.”
Tyler Kolek a Second-Round Steal
That’s the takeaway from Bleacher Report, where analyst Mo Dakhil highlighted some surprise rookies from the previous month in an article titled “Rookies Who Already Look Like Draft Steals at 2024 NBA Summer League.” Kolek was among them, being the sole second-round pick on the list.
Here’s what Dakhil wrote on him: “Kolek is a pure playmaker, averaging 7.3 assists through three games in Las Vegas. His low turnover numbers are just as impressive as the number of assists. (He’s averaging 1.3 turnovers per contest.)
“The challenge for Kolek is the depth of the Knicks, which might mean he will not see much playing time. If given the opportunity, he will raise some eyebrows. He can hit catch-and-shoot threes, has a quick burst to get to the rim and again, his vision will open up opportunities for others.”
Kolek, however, is not your normal rookie. He is already 23 years old and has played four seasons of college basketball, beginning his career at George Mason before transferring. He is only one year younger than Miles McBride, a three-year Knicks veteran who will fight for minutes at point guard.
