Knicks Rookie Impresses in Debut

The New York Knicks were happy to see their rookie off to a strong start.

Jeremy Brener | Oct 7, 2024

Mar 29, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles head coach Shaka Smart talks to guard Tyler Kolek (11) during the first half in the semifinals of the South Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images / Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

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New York Knicks

New York Knicks point guard Tyler Kolek made his preseason debut with the team after being taken with the No. 34 overall pick in June's NBA Draft.

Kolek played 14 minutes in the Knicks' 111-109 win against the Charlotte Hornets, where he was 3 of 5 from distance for 11 points. He also added two steals and a block to the box score, showcasing some development on the defensive end of the floor.

Kolek's debut impressed coach Tom Thibodeau, and he shared that sentiment in the post-game press conference.

"I thought he gave us good minutes," Thibodeau said of Kolek. "I thought our bench did a lot of good things as well. They need some time together so we took advantage of that in the second half as much as we could."

Kolek was the lone member of the Knicks rookie class that saw action in the preseason opener against the Hornets. Kevin McCullar, Ariel Hukporti and first-round pick Pacome Dadiet did not play, which again shows how important the Knicks view Kolek and how they don't quite view him on the same trajectory as the other first-year players.

Kolek may not see this amount of minutes when the regular season begins, so it's important that he takes advantage of the playing time he gets now while the Knicks are building and growing during training camp and preseason.

His first showing definitely showed a lot of promise, and his 3-point ability is certainly something that could be called upon at some point during the year. Thibodeau likely won't throw Kolek out far too often in his rookie season, but if the Knicks get hampered by injuries, it's important for the point guard from Marquette to have some experience to draw back on.

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Published Oct 7, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.