The final consensus on draft evening 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 coaching camp.
The sport hasn’t regarded 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 could possibly be a contributor as a rookie.
“Moreover the truth that he went to Marquette, I like Tyler lots,” Jalen Brunson mentioned. “That’s my man. I’m not shocked with the way in which he’s been enjoying. Simply watching him since being right here engaged on his sport daily being within the health club. You place 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 learn 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 flooring normal, the Massive East Participant of the 12 months 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 by way of Getty Photographs
“That simply comes by the work, by the boldness, by my work ethic,” mentioned Kolek, chosen No. 34 total by the Knicks. “On the finish of the day, it’s only a basketball sport, irrespective of the extent that I’m at.”
The 6-foot-1 Kolek is beginning over and gained’t essentially be a part of Thibodeau’s rotation when the video games begin for actual, at the least 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 method he has different steps in his profession.
“Everyone goes by it. Highschool, I did it. Faculty, I did it,” Kolek mentioned. “Now, I obtained to do it over again. Simply begin your constructing blocks. You tore down that home. Faculty is over with. Now, I’m attempting 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 12 months.
Brunson needed to earn every thing he obtained and now is among the greatest guards within the league.
Kolek appeared like Brunson in describing his transition, stating what he has to do higher slightly than basking in his Backyard Knicks debut Wednesday, when he had 15 factors and 5 assists in a rout of the Wizards.
Kolek informed reporters unprompted that he has struggled in follow with turnovers, as he tries to seek out the fitting stability between scoring and distributing.
He comes throughout as assured in himself with out being cocky, realizing there’s a lot for him to study.
“I’m nonetheless figuring it out, discovering my tempo,” Kolek mentioned. “Possibly 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 to be like as a result of then it opens up every thing else with my passing.”
