Latest news with #TylerKolek
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
4 Knicks takeaways from 2025 Summer League
The Knicks' 2025 Summer League is done with Saturday's 94-85 loss to the Washington Wizards. After the Knicks went 1-4 in five games, there was a lot to think about. From Tyler Kolek's lackluster showing to Mohamed Diawara's promising debut, here are four takeaways following New York's time in Las Vegas. Tyler Kolek's struggles Kolek's second Summer League was a disappointment. The sophomore guard shot just 17.1 percent from deep and only had five more assists than turnovers in five games. It was concerning to see him struggle against extended defensive pressure. Kolek did respond well to two bad outings by scoring 23 points in the first half of New York's 97-93 win against the Nets this past Tuesday. Another positive to take from the games was Kolek's ability to play with pace off misses or turnovers. There were several times where he made great hit-ahead passes or moved the ball quickly to set up transition-scoring opportunities for his teammates. It's difficult to put too much stock into Kolek's Summer League, but it does confirm that he still has some work to do on both the offensive and defensive ends to earn trust and minutes as the team's backup point guard. Uneven run for second-year players Pacome Dadiet, Kevin McCullar Jr. and Ariel Hukporti were all limited due to injuries, but let's look at what the second-year players did in truncated time. Dadiet missed three games due to a left foot injury. The Frenchman flashed an ability to score off cuts and in transition in two games. However, three-point shooting remains a question. Dadiet shot 25 percent from deep. If he doesn't improve from long range, it will be hard for the former first-round pick to earn consistent minutes for the Knicks. Hukporti appeared in three games. Outside of a nine-point, 13-rebound and three-block night against the Boston Celtics, the big man was relatively quiet, averaging 6.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and two blocks. He missed the final two games with a left knee sprain. McCullar made plays as a slasher and ballhandler which stood out in his 30-point outing against the Celtics. But like Dadiet, three-point shooting (20 percent on 10 attempts) remains a weakness. McCullar only played for two games due to a nasal contusion. All three players still have room to grow, though, and each did show glimmers of potential. Rookie surprise With just seven points and 5.3 rebounds averaged in four games, Diawara's Summer League numbers don't pop, but his presence was felt. The 6-foot-8 second-round pick also has a 7-foot-4 wingspan and 9-foot-2 standing reach. On defense, he is a switchable defender. Where Diawara was a surprise is on the offensive end. He has a better feel for the game than expected, making several nifty passes, initiating the offense at times and showing an ability to push the ball after securing rebounds. Diawara's outside shot needs a lot of work. Last season, he shot 31 percent from three in France. In the Summer League, Diawara converted just 2 of 13 threes (15.4 percent). Roster conundrum Diawara was just one of several Summer League players vying for roster spots. McCullar, Anton Watson and MarJon Beauchamp are the Knicks' current two-way contract players. Summer League saw several players worthy of a potential roster spot. Watson led the way Saturday against Washington with 21 points and six rebounds. Beauchamp led the Knicks in scoring in two separate games. Dink Pate had a solid Summer League showing, averaging 9.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 17.6 minutes. The undrafted 19-year-old wing ended his stint with 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks against the Wizards. The Knicks can still add one veteran-minimum contract and one rookie deal before reaching the second apron. It remains to be seen which of these five players will be on the roster by the start of the season.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MarJon Beauchamp scores 28 points, Knicks' comeback falls short in 91-88 loss to Pacers in Summer League action
The Knicks mounted a heroic 17-point comeback that ultimately fell short in a nail-biter against the Indiana Pacers in their fourth Las Vegas Summer League game, 91-88. Here are some takeaways... -MarJon Beauchamp had another huge night with 28 points on 6-of-11 shooting from three, and Tyler Kolek added 14 points, five assists and five turnovers. -The Knicks were without top prospects Kevin McCullar Jr., Pacome Dadiet, Ariel Hukporti or Mohamed Diawara. They got some step-up games from Dink Pate, who scored 11, Anton Watson, who scored nine and Yudai Baba, who had nine points. Kam Jones had a monster night for the Pacers with 21 points and 11 assists on 9-for-19 shooting from the field. Enrique Freeman recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. -After appearing for only three minutes combined in the Knicks' last three games, center Lance Ware got the start and made an early impact with a slam and some drawn fouls in the opening minutes. Beauchamp continued his momentum from his breakout third game, hitting an inside floater, leaking out for a dunk and nailing a three for seven points in the first quarter. Despite the early offense, the Pacers kept their defense in rotation and it was a close affair throughout the first. Ultimately, Indiana led 17-16 going into the second. The Pacers got off to a 16-0 run behind a stalled New York offense and some strong deep shooting on the other end. Enrique Freeman went 5-5 and scored all 12 of his first-half points in the second quarter, including a monster alley-oop. -Beauchamp was the only Knick with the knack and aggressiveness offensively, getting inside for the assist and converting a block into a transition and-one, even hitting a pull-up three. He had 19 at the half, however, the Knicks as a team once again struggled creating and converting from deep, going 5-for-15 to Indy's 8-for-17 in the first half as they trailed at the break 52-38. Baba, who got the start tonight, got himself going to start the second half, hitting a three and a reverse layup. New York's offense still looked stilted with a quiet game out of Kolek following his banger in game three. -They managed to find some success burning Indiana on back cuts and feeding Beauchamp some more, sparking a 9-0 run late in the period. He hit another couple of threes in the third as the Knicks cut the Pacers' lead to 68-59 going into the fourth. New York's momentum carried into the fourth. Dink Pate hit a three, scored a lay-up and followed up with another three, plus the foul, totaling all 11 of his points in the final frame. Anton Watson threw down a one-handed poster on Freeman to cut the Pacers' lead to two with just over two minutes to play, setting off the crowd and announcers. With 90 seconds left, Kolek hit an ankle-breaking step-back middie to tie it up. After a Pacers free throw, Kolek drove the lane off a nasty spin to hit the and-one lay-up to put the Knicks up two. A Freeman finish evened the score, and after a Beauchamp miss, the Pacers retook the lead on free throws from an off-ball foul and a blown defensive rebound on a missed free throw from the Knicks. Now down three, Kolek missed a quick two and a Beauchamp look from three, but Indiana missed two free throws. With one more shot at sending the game to overtime, Kolek missed a turnaround three as the Pacers escaped. Highlights
New York Post
17-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
What Tyler Kolek's been looking for, and hopefully found, with this Knicks' summer league stint
LAS VEGAS — Tyler Kolek, at his playmaking peak, is an antagonizer. Confident. Arrogant, maybe. Picture the villain in a 1980s teen movie. 'When I'm playing at my best,' Kolek said, 'I got that swagger, I got that s— to me.' Advertisement You might've witnessed this version of Kolek in college, specifically at Marquette, where he adopted the roles of tormentor and villain. Regularly taunted by opposing fans — that type of frat-boy nastiness — Kolek responded by leading the nation in assists his junior and season seasons and earning an All-American nod.
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nets vs. Magic summer league game preview: How to watch, lineups
The Brooklyn Nets (0-3) were hoping for a better performance in the 2025 NBA Las Vegas Summer League as they finished last year's event with a 3-2 record, just missing the playoffs. However, Brooklyn has not won a game prior to Wednesday's slate so making it to the playoffs is not in the cards for them, but they can still make the most of their time in Sin City. The Nets will be playing their fourth game of the summer league against the Orlando Magic, a team in a similar spot to Brooklyn as they are also 0-3. Brooklyn is coming off a 97-93 loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday in which the Nets lost despite getting another great outing out of center Drew Timme. Brooklyn had no answer on defense for Knicks guard Tyler Kolek or forward MarJon Beauchamp. The Magic are coming off a 92-75 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in which guard Ethan Thompson had 16 points and four rebounds, but his effort wasn't enough to get Orlando their first win in the summer league. At this point, Brooklyn or Orlando will be getting their win in Las Vegas after this contest so here's what you need to know to get ready for the game: How To Watch Probable Starting Lineups Brooklyn Nets Orlando Magic Who To Watch Before discussing who to watch, it's important to note that guards Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf are not expected to play in this matchup as the team is expected to sit them out for the second half of a back-to-back. According to reports from Brian Lewis of the New York Post and Erik Slater of ClutchPoints, the Nets planned on resting the two international guards prior to Tuesday's loss to the Knicks. Saraf is most likely held out due to rest, but Traore did land on his back on Tuesday so he could use the rest after dealing with an ankle injury earlier in the summer league. With that being said, guard Egor Demin and forward Danny Wolf are expected to play against the Magic and the hope is that at least one of the duo can have a breakout game with just two contests left on the slate, including this one. After the first couple of games in which summer league head coach Steve Hetzel was trying to see how all of the rookies would be able to play on the floor together, it seems like Brooklyn is now looking at how the rookies perform without each other on the floor. Center Drew Timme has been the Nets' best player, but it's likely that he gets some rest for either this game or the last one on the schedule for Brooklyn.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tyler Kolek drills five threes as Knicks beat Nets for first Summer League win
The Knicks won their first game of the Las Vegas Summer League Tuesday night with a 97-93 victory over their crosstown rival, the Brooklyn Nets. Here are some takeaways... - Tyler Kolek shook off two stinkers to put up 25 points, four assists and four steals on 5-for-12 shooting from three, most of which came in an electric first half. MarJon Beauchamp added 25 points on 7-for-17 shooting via a plethora of aggressive takes. Advertisement The rest of the squad played supporting roles as Kevin McCullar Jr. and Pacome Dadiet were sidelined. - Drew Timme led the way for Brooklyn with 24 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Caleb Daniels chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds and Quincy Olivari scored 16 as well. - The Knicks were much more competitive out of the gate in this one. It helped that Kolek found his touch immediately with a couple threes, an in-between pull-up and flashy euro in transition in the early going, finishing with 14 points, two assists, three steals and no turnovers in the first quarter. - With first-round pick Egor Demin out, fellow rookie point guard Ben Saraf looked to take advantage with seven points and two steals in the opening frame; however, New York rode maybe their best offensive quarter in Vegas to a 24-21 lead. Advertisement - Kolek continued his tear, whipping cross-court passes around and controlling the offense -- he hit three more threes, a pull-up jumper and another catch-and-fire from deep on the wing. Ariel Hukporti commanded the defense on the other end, recording a block and showing off his touch with a little euro in the lane. The Knicks led 41-39 going into halftime behind Kolek's 23 points. - Beauchamp made an impact to kick off the third, hitting an open three, floater and jumping the passing lane for a steal into free throws, finishing with nine points in the period. The Nets remained competitive despite their poor shooting thanks to a big effort on the offensive glass. - New York desperately wanted its first Summer League win, though, going on a 14-2 run late in the quarter. A Beauchamp to Scuka alley-oop capped a big quarter as the Knicks led 69-60 going into the fourth. Advertisement - Even when Kolek cooled off, the Knicks offense persisted. Mohamed Diawara made a hard drive and dumped it off to Nnaji for an and-one, while Beauchamp made more plays inside. Brooklyn managed to get the lead within single digits in the closing minutes, but New York secured the win with strong defense and free-throw shooting. Highlights What's next The Knicks close out Summer League action with a Thursday afternoon matchup with the Pacers at 4:30 p.m.
