Tyler Kolek is NBA ready

Comes from Marquette of the Big East Conference and is a point guard Tyler Kolek As a senior, he led the NCAA with 7.7 assists per game and became one of the best point guards in the country. His accolades went beyond the simple assist mark, as he finished as a second-team All-American and first-team All-Big East.

Kolek was drafted 34th overall by the Knicks and made an immediate impact in the two preseason games in which he played. In his first appearance on October 6, he focused more on his shooting, making three of five three-point attempts, one of which came from a live dribble. He scored 11 points in 14 minutes and also recorded two steals, one in which he read and intercepted a pass and another in which he picked off the opposing rookie Tidjane Salaun on a drive to the basket and pushed it down for a transition ball. He also blocked a shot KJ Simpson.

His second game was even more impressive – he scored 15 points and dished out five assists in 17 minutes, showing off a whole host of skills that will carry over to the regular season. One of his highlights was a behind-the-back relay race Cam Payne for an open threesome. He also scored on a dribble where he broke away from the field and hit a mid-range jumper, showcasing his acumen as a scorer.

Kolek will learn a lot playing behind the Knicks’ star point guard Jalen Brunsonwho is also undersized, but despite being physically disadvantaged, can use his offense to his advantage. His skill and basketball IQ were showcased not only in the preseason but also in the Summer League. There are certain things you can’t learn in basketball, and feel and instinct are two of them.

While he will compete with Miles McBride Like the aforementioned Payne, Kolek is simply too good not to get minutes early in his career. His experience and age also lend themselves to playing as a high-level point guard, meaning Knicks fans will see more of Kolek than one would normally assume based on his draft position as an early second-rounder in his rookie season .

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