The overall consensus on draft night time was the Knicks landed a steal within the second spherical with Tyler Kolek.
The previous Marquette star has finished nothing since then to vary that narrative.
He shined in summer time league and has impressed by means of coaching camp.
The sport hasn’t seemed too quick for him.
His teammates and coach Tom Thibodeau have raved about his work ethic, professionalism and potential.
It’s not out of the query he may very well be a contributor as a rookie.
“In addition to the truth that he went to Marquette, I like Tyler quite a bit,” Jalen Brunson mentioned. “That’s my man. I’m not stunned with the way in which he’s been taking part in. Simply watching him since being right here engaged on his sport every single day being within the health club. You set the work in, the outcomes are going to indicate.”
Thibodeau added: “I’ve mentioned this [before], to me, step one is to return in and discover ways to be a professional, and he’s already demonstrated that.”
In two preseason video games, Kolek is averaging 13 factors, three assists and two steals.
He’s picked up the place he left off in Las Vegas throughout summer time league, when he posted 9.6 factors, 7.0 assists and simply 1.4 turnovers.
The left-handed ground common, the Massive East Participant of the Yr in 2022-23 who averaged 15.3 factors and seven.7 assists final 12 months at Marquette, hasn’t been intimidated by his new environment or in awe of his star-studded group.
Hornets. NBAE through Getty Photos
“That simply comes by means of the work, by means of the boldness, by means of my work ethic,” mentioned Kolek, chosen No. 34 total by the Knicks. “On the finish of the day, it’s only a basketball sport, regardless of the extent that I’m at.”
The 6-foot-1 Kolek is beginning over and received’t essentially be a part of Thibodeau’s rotation when the video games begin for actual, a minimum of initially.
He’s a part of a title contender with veterans forward of him, from Brunson to Cam Payne to Miles McBride.
He understands it may take time. He’s approaching it the identical means he has different steps in his profession.
“All people goes by means of it. Highschool, I did it. School, I did it,” Kolek mentioned. “Now, I acquired to do it over again. Simply begin your constructing blocks. You tore down that home. School is over with. Now, I’m making an attempt to construct one other home. Simply beginning with my constructing blocks, getting my basis and constructing from there.”
He couldn’t have a greater mentor than Brunson, who fell out of the primary spherical in 2018 regardless of main Villanova to the nationwide championship that season because the Nationwide Participant of the Yr.
Brunson needed to earn all the pieces he acquired and now is without doubt one of the greatest guards within the league.
Kolek appeared like Brunson in describing his transition, mentioning what he has to do higher somewhat than basking in his Backyard Knicks debut Wednesday, when he had 15 factors and 5 assists in a rout of the Wizards.
Kolek advised reporters unprompted that he has struggled in follow with turnovers, as he tries to search out the proper steadiness between scoring and distributing.
He comes throughout as assured in himself with out being cocky, understanding there’s a lot for him to be taught.
“I’m nonetheless figuring it out, discovering my tempo,” Kolek mentioned. “Perhaps in follow I haven’t been as aggressive trying on the basket. So it’s been form of intentional in these video games to get these appears as a result of then it opens up all the pieces else with my passing.”
