New York Knicks Rookie Drawing Summer League Praise

Summer League has provided a chance for New York Knicks fans to see their newest rookies in action for the first time. While the outcome of games has been disappointing, as the team is 0-2, there have been a few standout performers.

Second-round pick Tyler Kolek has been turning some heads. He finished his first Summer League game with seven points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

In Game 2 against the Brooklyn Nets, he recorded another seven assists without a turnover. Last season, a huge void in the New York Knicks’ lineup was someone who could run the offense with Jalen Brunson resting.

That no longer seems to be an issue. Kolek looks ready to contribute and the team added veteran Cameron Payne in free agency this week as well.

Another New York Knicks rookie people are keeping a close eye on is Pacome Dadiet. The team’s first-round pick, No. 25 overall, was one of the youngest players in this year’s draft class but will not be stashed overseas.

Turning only 19 later in July, Dadiet is a raw prospect. But, he has been showing flashes of what he is capable of during the Summer League.

His efficiency has been poor, making only 28.6 percent of his shots overall. Despite that, former NBA head coach Sam Mitchell has liked what he has seen from the young Frenchman.

“Shot’s just not falling but…those are NBA moves. He’ll be more efficient…but the fact that he can get to his spots is impressive…You can see the length, the athleticism, the ballhandling, the rebounding, the decisionmaking,” Mitchell said via New York Basketball on X.

At the Summer League, you want to pull positives out of performances. Despite his shot not falling, Dadiet has been able to provide plenty, as detailed by the comments Mitchell provided.

While he may not contribute right away, Dadiet is a worthwhile project for the New York Knicks to put time into. He has a lot of tools NBA teams like to see from wing players and isn’t even scratching the surface of his potential yet.

Plenty of time will be spent during the 2024-25 NBA season in the G League. Dadiet can receive consistent playing time there until an opportunity to contribute to the New York Knicks opens up.

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