Tyler Kolek, the New York Knicks rookie point guard, provided quality minutes last night in his first minutes in three months. Coach Tom Thibodeau kept a short rotation after All-Star Jalen Brunson went down with his ankle injury, partly leading to his squad being blown out on both sides of their back-to-back due to tiredness. Despite Mikal Bridges imploring his coach to give more minutes to the bench, it took Miles McBride‘s injury to finally dust off the young playmaker.
Kolek wasted no time against the Wizards, putting up a historic seven assists in just 12 minutes. Thus proving that Kolek deserved playing time much earlier. It also highlights Thibodeau’s baffling treatment of the prospect. Having not played first-half minutes since New Year’s Day, it was impressive to see the rookie shine immediately.
Kolek appeared to be NBA-ready long before Saturday night. Also, with the Knicks pressed against the apron tax limiting their payroll flexibility, they must hit on their draft selections. That should have been a point of emphasis, especially with the bench struggling to provide depth this year. Despite the Knicks getting the square root of nothing out of their bench much of this year, it’s surprising that Kolek wasn’t given an earlier opportunity. Thibodeau should have allowed him to grow as the chief playmaker role behind Brunson.
Tyler Kolek Deserved Playing Time Much Earlier
Kolek made history by being the first player in NBA history to record seven assists, three steals, zero turnovers, and a +15 on the court in the second quarter of a game. Although against a modest opposition in the Wizards, this performance showcased Kolek’s potential. His ability to control the game and set up his teammates was evident in his 18 minutes on the court. It was a missed opportunity to see him on the bench for the first 70 games of the season. Undoubtedly, Kolek deserved playing time much earlier.
Certain things jumped out in his minutes last night, namely, how in control he was. He oozed confidence and was very much in control of the offense. Seeing angles and weaknesses in the Wizards’ defense to cut through them with aplomb.
Kolek also put his teammates in a far better position to succeed; Mikal Bridges excelled beside Kolek. All four of his threes came from Kolek’s assists. Being fed in rhythm and found wide open in the corners or at the top of the key. It hasn’t happened enough this year, making Bridges a focal point of the offense. It’s a sign of a quality point guard when they recognize that a teammate has it going. In this instance, it was Mikal. Kolek did well finding him in great spots to dominate. Kolek could help Bridges excel in the offense.
Tyler Kolek 4 points 8 assists in 18 minutes
— Teg
(@IQfor3) March 23, 2025
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Looking at the assists in the above video, his range of passing was extremely impressive. He showed off cross-court vision into the corner for a Bridges three, running the pick-and-roll with aplomb. He also showed off crafty moves in the paint, finishing a contested layup in the paint. Last night, he had three steals, showcasing his defensive prowess. For those who question his defensive abilities, Kolek excelled at getting into the passing lanes and disrupting the opposition’s offense. This all-around performance further underscores his readiness for more playing time.
Kolek’s Draft Profile
Kolek led the NCAA in assists last year for Marquette with 7.7. He is an elite prospect in IQ and playmaking. His standout performances in College as a terrific facilitator and leader and his being regarded as one of the steals of the 2024 draft. He is a high-floor prospect viewed as a plug-and-play backup point guard, promising a bright future for the team. Aside from his playmaking, he’s also very crafty, finishing with his left hand. He even profiles as a solid outside shooter.
What Was Thibodeau Thinking?
It’s been rough watching the Knicks run the offense without Brunson until Kolek stepped on the floor. Turgid half-court sets and a lot of iso ball relying on Karl-Anthony Towns and Bridges to force something to happen by themselves. However, neither of them are natural ball-handlers. There were long stretches last week where the Knicks would go without a basket. Plus, their bench was getting roasted, they were outscored 30-0 against Charlotte until garbage time in a recent game.
Landry Shamet is suffering a disastrous run of games—4-20 from three in his last six games—with one assist in March. Frankly, it’s inexcusable that Kolek hasn’t had any run until now. Giving Kolek a rotation spot in the New Year had no downside. It was a no-brainer to provide him with an opportunity to learn from the ups and downs. Make no mistake, not every game will be this special for the rookie. But it was baffling to see him only get on the court in the final minute of blowouts- it serves no purpose whatsoever.
Indeed, Thibodeau playing with an eight-man rotation without a natural point guard in recent weeks is hard to justify, especially when both Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges complained of tiredness and playmaking struggles in the group from long road trips. It is essential for him to listen to his players rather than ignore them with the playoffs looming. With McBride on the sidelines, he should command a rotation spot, at least for the next few games. The big question will be if Thibs banishes him once Brunson returns. Hopefully, due to last night’s historic game, Kolek remains in the rotation moving forward.
Photo credit: © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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