Over the last few years, the NBA Summer League has become a major event. New York Knicks fans and league personnel flock to Las Vegas to watch the next batch of potential stars take the court for the first time with their new teams.
For the first time in a few years, the New York Knicks will have a few rookies heading to Las Vegas. The 2024 NBA Draft was the first time since 2021 that the team used and kept a first-round pick.
With the No. 25 overall pick, the team selected Pacome Dadiet out of France. He will certainly draw some attention in Las Vegas among Knicks fans as one of four rookies who will be participating.
The rookie who most people will be keeping an eye on is second-round pick, Tyler Kolek. The Marquette product was selected as the New York Knicks’ top player to watch in the Summer League in 2024.
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“The Knicks’ precarious luxury tax situation means hitting singles and doubles along the margins of their roster is increasingly important. That’s why nailing some of the four picks the team made in the draft could be impactful.
The main one to watch in summer league is Kolek, who fits the mold of player coach Tom Thibodeau often gravitates to with his grit, smarts and competitiveness. It will also be interesting to see how far away 18-year-old first-round pick Pacome Dadiet is from being ready to help the Knicks defensively,” wrote Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
There are a lot of scouts and evaluators who believe that Kolek can help the New York Knicks right away. A major void in their lineup was a ball-handler and facilitator behind Jalen Brunson.
That is a role Kolek can step into right away and provide production in 10-15 minutes per game. He is an elite playmaker, averaging 7.7 assists per game last season, and an excellent shotmaker.
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Kolek shot 38.8 percent from 3-point range last season and had an elite true shooting percentage of 60 percent. With some elite offensive advanced stats, Kolek was also solid on the defensive end last season for Marquette.
The New York Knicks are confident in Kolek, signing him to a record-setting contract for a second-round pick. He will earn $6.6 million guaranteed, surpassing the previous record of $6.4 million. The 2024 NBA Summer League will be his first opportunity to show why he deserved that deal.
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