New York Knicks rookie impressed head coach Tom Thibodeau regardless of scoring simply 2 factors.
Since dropping Jalen Brunson resulting from an ankle sprain, the New York Knicks have seemingly misplaced their footing within the 2024-25 NBA season.
They’ve misplaced a number of winnable video games, however the group is slowly returning to kind as they’re now on a two-game profitable streak.
The Knicks’ most up-to-date win got here in opposition to the shorthanded Dallas Mavericks as they’ve now improved to a 45-26 document for the season.
The Knicks had no bother dealing with the Mavericks, due to unbelievable scoring performances from Karl-Anthony Cities and OG Anunoby.
Nevertheless, head coach Tom Thibodeau made positive to speak about rookie guard Tyler Kolek, who performed 19 minutes in opposition to the Mavs.
“Simply regular enchancment, he’s studying, getting higher each recreation, he made plenty of good performs, begin of the fourth we received into an excellent rhythm due to motion, and his potential to learn, and everybody can play off that,” Coach Thibs mentioned of Kolek.
He added: “When everyone begins serving to one another, the sport is lots simpler.”
With Brunson’s return nonetheless round every week or so away, Kolek’s enchancment is an efficient signal for the Knicks.
Although coach Thibodeau isn’t recognized for distributing main minutes to the bench, it wouldn’t damage to have that possibility come playoff time, particularly since Brunson will possible be on a minutes restriction upon return.
Learn Extra: What Tyler Kolek did in New York Knicks win was ‘sensible’, he performed important function, claims knowledgeable
In 19 minutes, the Knicks rookie completed the evening with simply 2 factors and 1 rebound. Nevertheless, Kolek’s largest contribution was his elite playmaking expertise.
The soon-to-be 24-year-old guard dished out 9 assists within the 128-113 win for the Knicks. Coach Thibs acknowledged the significance of Kolek’s playmaking expertise after the sport.
“I feel that’s necessary. He had 9, Cam had 5, Josh with 11, KAT with 11, when the ball strikes like that, it’s onerous to defend that,” Thibodeau mentioned of the Knicks’ assists.
Whereas Kolek’s 9 assists stood out, a number of stars completed the evening in a double-digit assist-tally. The Knicks stay the third seed within the Japanese Convention.
