With Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride sidelined due to injury, New York Knicks rookie Tyler Kolek got an extended look off the bench during Saturday night’s 122-103 victory over the lowly Washington Wizards and impressed in the process.
In 18 minutes serving as the No. 2 point guard behind Cameron Payne, the Marquette product scored just four points on 1-of-4 shooting from the field but dished out a game-high eight assists. It was the most helpers recorded in a single game by a Knicks rookie since McBride during the 2021-22 season.
“Tyler gave us great minutes,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau (h/t SNY). “We built the lead which allowed [Payne] to get some rest there. It was more how the team was functioning. We stayed organized and he was making the right reads. It was good to see. He’s done a good job for us.”
He was a main proponent of Mikal Bridges’ second-quarter breakout. Of the 20 points scored by the guard, 13 of them were assisted by Kolek.
“Once he made one, Ty found him again. He made another one,” Payne said, (h/t New York Post) “It was big-time for us having Ty out there finding [Bridges] constantly.”
Kolek’s 18:24 on Saturday night was a season-high, and the most he has played in a game at the NBA level since Nov. 18 during the Knicks’ 134-106 win over those very same Wizards. The second-round pick has only recorded 10 or more minutes six times out of 34 NBA appearances this season.
It’s a solid impression to make on Thibodeau and team brass, though an air-tight rotation will not lend itself to an abundance of playing time once Brunson and McBride get the all-clear to return. Regardless, Saturday night was something to build on as the Knicks look to procure the right depth pieces in their quest to build a championship contender.
