The New York Knicks knew that they lucked out when they were able to get former Marquette standout Tyler Kolek in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Though Knicks president Leon Rose hasn’t openly raved about the 23-year-old’s guard skills, their decision to sign him to a four-year contract spoke to their confidence in him. Meanwhile, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has been vocal about his feel for the game. The two-time NBA Coach of the Year is said to be a “massive fan” of Kolek.
Knicks Rookie Tyler Kolek Takes Home G League Showcase Finals MVP
On Sunday, the NBA G League revealed that Kolek was named the 2024 Winter Showcase Finals MVP. With his 22-point, 11-assist double-double, the Westchester Knicks were able to defeat the Sioux Falls Skyforce. It’s the second consecutive season that the Knicks’ G League affiliate was able to come away with the Showcase Championship.
Tyler Kolek is your 2024 Winter Showcase Finals MVP! The @nyknicks draftee shined off the bench with 22 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds, helping lead the @wcknicks to back-to-back Showcase Championships.
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— NBA G League (@nbagleague) December 23, 2024
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The level of competition in the G League is obviously below the NBA standard. However, the focus of the G League is usually player development. In fact, prior to their name change, it was called the NBA D League (NBA Development League). Kolek is there to continue honing his skills, not just for cardio.
With that being said, his ability to win MVP goes beyond the surface. The hardware reflects not just a good game but his overall skill level. A title hopeful like New York wouldn’t look at Kolek’s accomplishment as indicative of his potential as a rotation piece in a vacuum. However, when they factor it in with what else they know about him, he’s making a great case for himself.
What’s Next For Tyler Kolek?
Up to this point of the season, Kolek’s flashes haven’t amounted to much playing time.
He performed well during Summer League and preseason. Nonetheless, New York’s point guard rotation was all but set thanks to Miles McBride’s offensive growth. Even if he was just a defensive specialist, it wouldn’t have been easy for Kolek to overtake him on the depth chart. With McBride now becoming an increasingly aggressive and proficient scorer, he’s simply a rock solid backup for Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks also signed Cam Payne in the offseason. Payne is mostly known for his contributions to the offensive side. Yet, since nearly being forced out of the NBA, he’s become a mature player. He now plays with more focus than ever and not just as a scorer.
However, Kolek has a lot going in his favor.
The Rhode Island native is far more of a playmaker than McBride and Payne. He’s a better on-ball defender than Payne. He’s also under contract longer than Payne, whose contract expires this season. Barring injury or trade, that may not lead to much more than situational opportunities this season. Both McBride and Payne have been excellent from beyond the arc this season and they’re more experienced than Kolek.
Soon enough though, he’ll get the opportunity to make a consistent impact. He can’t control who Thibodeau trots out onto the court. Still, Kolek can make him think twice about not calling his number. All he has to do is make sure his head coach’s (and the front office’s) eyes stay open.
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