New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau typically prefers to play his starters as much as he can. But injuries have forced his hand to utilize parts of his bench that have not had a chance to show why they deserve a spot in the everyday rotation.
While the Knicks certainly wish Jalen Brunson and others never missed time this season, recent absences have allowed rookie Tyler Kolek to illustrate why the front office acquired him. So far, the guard has performed well enough to be considered an asset going forward.
It remains to be seen just "how" Kolek will be an asset for the Knicks. But his recent play suggests that he could either be a viable part of a future rotation or the kind of young talent that another team would want in a possible trade.
I don’t know how many actual POINT GUARDS are left in the NBA but Tyler Kolek is one of them pic.twitter.com/e20LxMkr00
— Big Knick Energy (@BigKnickEnergy_) April 2, 2025
Knicks prospect Tyler Kolek is becoming more valuable by the day
The 24-year-old has received more playing time recently while Brunson, Miles McBride, and Cameron Payne have been dealing with injuries. While he has not scored many points, Kolek has slowly gotten better at running the offense and being a facilitator.
In his last five games, Kolek has recorded 25 assists and six turnovers across 85 minutes. The Marquette product has not looked like a seasoned veteran, but his willingness to set up teammates and try to make an impact is noteworthy.
“[I’ve learned] a lot,” Kolek told the New York Post before a March 11 victory over the Kings. “Coach always says, ‘Learning the NBA game, it’s really different from college.’ Offensively, defensively. The schemes that go into it — the game plans that go into it. So just trying to learn from these guys and be able to take that and learn from it."
Brunson, McBride, and Payne are close to returning for the Knicks. As a result, Kolek is not likely to play during the postseason. But, he has shown that there are clearly, reasons to believe that he can be an impact player in the NBA.
If not for the presence of McBride, Kolek could slot in as the backup point guard, or at leas play behind Payne. But, both Payne and McBride are more trusted by Thibodeau due to their experience.
Kolek's fate may become interesting for the Knicks this offseason. While he has shown skill in limited minutes, it is possible that New York may look to trade him or at least see if another team would want him in a potential deal.
Injuries are an unfortunate reality of the game, but they have at least allowed the Knicks to see what they in Kolek. What they decide to do from here is anyone's guess.