Knicks’ 2nd round floor general expected to be Jalen Brunson’s backup

The Knicks had a first-round grade on Marquette’s floor general Tyler Kolek, who ultimately was selected in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.

The Knicks are Expecting Impact From Tyler Kolek

As a rookie, the Knicks are cautious about placing too much pressure on Kolek to become the primary backup to star point guard Jalen Brunson. However, according to Ian Begley of SNY, the situation might evolve differently. Initially, it was reported that Cameron Payne would receive “significant minutes.” Yet, it now appears that Kolek will be the primary secondary ball handler. This shift would require head coach Tom Thibodeau to expand his rotation to include 10 players.

Kolek’s Rising Role

“Rookie Tyler Kolek is currently the backup point guard, ahead of Payne, per people familiar with the matter. The Knicks were thrilled to get Payne last week. (He signed for a veteran’s minimum deal). At the moment, he is viewed as the third lead guard behind Kolek, who had a very strong Summer League.”

Summer League Impact

During this Summer League cycle, Kolek made five appearances, averaging 27.2 minutes per game. He recorded 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and seven assists per game, with a 35.6% field goal percentage and a 31.6% three-point shooting rate. While his shooting is expected to improve significantly with further development and a larger sample size, there’s still plenty of reason to believe he may not secure a consistent spot in the rotation early in the upcoming season.

The Need for a Visionary

Last year, the Knicks lacked a true visionary on the court behind Brunson. Miles McBride, who was thrust into the backup point guard role, didn’t necessarily fit this skill set. Although he was a tremendous perimeter shooter, his vision and assist numbers were underwhelming.

Kolek’s Unique Contribution

The team relied on Donte DiVincenzo to step up and help at times, but Kolek offers a truly different dynamic. He might not score heavily, but his ability to locate players in the corners and facilitate quick ball movement and spacing for open shots is crucial. In essence, his specialty lies in generating high-probability looks, a skill that will greatly benefit the Knicks’ talented wings.

Balancing the Bench

The challenge will be to allocate minutes for McBride and Kolek simultaneously, given the limited minutes available on the bench. Naturally, handling injuries will be a crucial factor for the second-round rookie. If Kolek excels on the court with his visionary play, Thibodeau might be compelled to increase his role significantly.

Defensive Challenges

Nevertheless, Kolek’s defensive experience and prowess present potential challenges. He was slow in defensive rotations at times during the Summer League, and his smaller stature might pose difficulties against larger guards. However, given that he’s coming off the bench, the Knicks are prepared to manage any temporary lapses in defensive efficiency for the time being.