Kevin Stacom: Why the Tough Knicks Are the Perfect Team for RI's Kolek
Kevin Stacom, Sports Analyst
Kevin Stacom: Why the Tough Knicks Are the Perfect Team for RI's Kolek
While all that was dramatically unfolding, there was another player of local interest who had to go through the more difficult route of watching 1st round picks evaporating before his eyes, knowing he had to endure the prolonged suspense of waiting another day until the 2nd round of the draft commenced.
Tyler Kolek had to be disappointed initially at not going in the first round. The first round of the NBA draft is the promised land of all young guys aspiring to play in the NBA. Being selected in the first round assures you three years of guaranteed money and the status of knowing you’ve been ordained by a professional franchise as one of the top 30 players in the world for that privilege.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTTypically, when a team has invested a 1st round pick in a player, he will be given the utmost attention and opportunity to succeed as they Will do their best to justify their selection.
Tyler Kolek’s father, Kevin, confirmed for me that Tyler had worked out for a number of teams that had picks in the 20s (Phoenix, Utah, New York), and all of them conveyed strong interest in drafting him if he was still there when they selected. In addition, most mock drafts had him going from early to late 20’s It had to be tough gut-check as that night ended
As difficult as that night might have been, in my estimation, things turned around quickly the following day for the Cumberland, RI, native. The NY Knicks chose Kolek with the 34th pick in the 2nd round. I mention this as a great reversal of fortune for a couple of reasons. As previously mentioned, teams value high 2nd round picks as they have the chance to get a 1st round talent without the financial commitment of 3 years of guaranteed money. (Just so you know, as of 2 years ago, teams were selling 2nd round picks for over 2 million dollars).
The fact that the Knicks traded up from 38 to the 34th pick to get him indicates to me that they really wanted him. It wasn’t like they just sat back at 38 and said “Oh well, we’ll just wait to see who’s there and take the best player available” They were probably very excited that he survived that long on the board and did whatever they could to move up and get him. Big difference.
What that also indicates to me is that he probably has a very good chance of getting 2/3 years of guaranteed money (like a late 1st rounder) because the last thing a team would want to do, if they think he has a good chance of making it, is signing him for one year and, in the event that he shows well, provide a platform and audition for other teams, and him becoming an unrestricted free agent the following year.
The other thing that’s very fortunate for Kolek here is that superstar talents don't have to worry so much about how they are going to “fit” into a given situation, but for the rest of us mortals, it’s crucial. I think the Knicks are a great fit for him. To begin with, Brunson will provide great guidance and inspiration as someone who also was initially undervalued and had to prove it the hard way (Brunson was the 33rd pick in 2nd round in 2018) Josh Hart was another key player for them who lasted until the 30th pick, and also like Brunson and Kolek was Big East Player of the year - Hart 2017, Brunson 2018, Kolek 2023. When Brunson was out, the Knicks were very thin at point guard and in dire need of an effective backup, so the need and, therefore, the opportunity for minutes is there with New York.
I know it’s an overused word, but I admit it’s a good word to describe an atmosphere that a team acquires over time- it’s “culture.” The culture that the head coach Tom Thibodeaux has established for the Knicks is a reflection of his values as a coach, represented by the hard-edged personalities and blood and guts approach of his players- they all buy in to the unselfish team-oriented, defensive mindset This environment will be a great atmosphere for Tyler Kolek to cut his teeth in-right up his alley
He’s already proved that he’s willing to do it the hard way. He would have loved it, having grown up in RI, to be recruited and play for one of the hometown teams - either URI or PC. That wasn’t meant to be - so like a prophet rejected in his homeland, he first went to George Mason, and after being named freshman of the year in the A-10, his coach was fired, and he sought to move up a notch for better development and exposure.
His Dad explained to me that Tyler generated a lot of interest, but Marquette was very aggressive in the thoroughness of their approach. Shaka Smart had just gotten the job there and basically told Kolek that he would be the cornerstone as the point guard of his new program - something that Tyler wanted very much since, at George Mason the coach needed him off the ball as primarily a shooter (as a freshman there almost 7 FG’s attempted out of 9 were 3’s!), and he knew his best future was that of a point guard. It proved to be a great deal for both Smart and Kolek He knew himself well enough and was willing to put in all the work to where, his senior year at Marquette, he led the country in assists with 7.7/game.
Also, I’ve known Tom Thibodeaux a long time, and I’m certain he’ll love having another hard-nosed gym rat on a team filled with underdogs to help continue the revival of a franchise desperately trying for relevancy against a now dominant Boston Celtic team.
PS - interesting tidbit Tyler Kolek is the highest drafted native Rhode Islander since Marvin Barnes in 1974- just think of how many young kids have bounced a ball in this State since then and what a cool thing that is to achieve!