Abilities professional Chris Brickley defended Tyler Kolek, who’s presently looking for success with the New York Knicks on the NBA Summer season League.
Tyler Kolek is a participant many New York Knicks followers have backed since his arrival within the NBA. The #34 decide within the 2024 NBA Draft grew to become a giant hit with followers virtually immediately.
It was Kolek’s NBA Summer season League outings with the Knicks final yr that earned him the vocal help of one of the crucial demanding fan bases within the NBA.
In the course of the 2024-25 season, Kolek earned then-Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau’s belief and help, getting alternatives with the principle group and their G-League affiliate.
In fact, Kolek did have his poor efficiency in a Knicks uniform. However the younger star did shine extra typically than he failed.
In his second stint within the NBA Summer season League, Kolek has shone once more. Regardless of these sturdy outings, one of many NBA’s most trusted trainers believes NBA followers shouldn’t take an excessive amount of from this run.
Chris Brickley, one of the crucial trusted impartial trainers amongst NBA gamers, spoke about Tyler Kolek’s efficiency in opposition to the Indiana Pacers on X, the place the guard went 6-15 and scored simply 14 factors with 5 assists.
Brickley claimed that regardless of his taking pictures struggles, Kolek performed properly. However to guage Kolek based mostly on his Summer season League performances could be unfair. Brickley added that Kolek proved he could be a backup guard within the NBA.
“My boy had some nice performs!! However let’s preserve it 100. As a pass-first level guard like Tyler Kolek, the Summer season League shouldn’t be equal to the true NBA. He’s surrounded by a bunch of G-League/Abroad gamers.
“Additionally, you can inform opposing groups’ defensive methods have been to be bodily and disrupt (sic) Tyler from doing what he does.
“I’m additionally a realist. Tyler Kolek had some moments that would have [been] higher, however he confirmed he is aware of how one can run an offense from the backup place within the league!”
One would hope that the New York Knicks’ teaching workers would agree with Brickley. In any case, the NBA Summer season League is merely a possibility for gamers to get some reps beneath a brand new set-up forward of the NBA season.
We now have seen a number of gamers gentle it up within the NBA Summer season League, solely to disappoint when given the same alternative within the common season.
As such, one troublesome taking pictures night time for Kolek shouldn’t influence his minutes allocation subsequent season. Very similar to final yr, Kolek goes to be a two-way participant, splitting his time within the G-League.
However the Knicks will give him some extra reps within the NBA subsequent season. Particularly with new head coach Mike Brown seeking to higher perceive his gamers.
If Kolek can work his approach into the Knicks’ rotation subsequent season, will probably be a giant leap from a improvement standpoint for the younger guard.
