After being a four-year starter in college, Tyler Kollek will be stepping into an entirely new situation with the New York Knicks, but he'll be able to use the extensive skills he's developed in the NBA to his immediate advantage.
Drafted 34th overall by New York, Kolek hasn't yet been heralded as an immediate contributor, but his Summer League schedule offers glimpses of his potential to be an early contributor.
Highlights included 7.0 assists per game with just 1.4 turnovers, clearly a transferable skill that carried over directly from his college days, where he recorded 7.7 assists per game in his final season at Marquette.
In the NBA, where space is plentiful, Kolek should thrive as an on-ball guard, navigating screens, setting up teammates and spotting up on downtime.
It wasn't a very smooth transition for the former Golden Eagle's scoring, averaging just 9.6 points on 36 percent shooting from the field, but it was clear even before the draft that he needed more time to stabilize on that front, and a near 40 percent 3-point shooting percentage over his final two collegiate seasons is plenty encouraging.
Korec is certainly poised to make a positive impact in some key areas. The only obstacle is the Knicks' coveted NBA Finals run and the really talented roster that stands in Korec's way.
Rookies don't usually make a big impact on a team with title aspirations, but Korec's unique pass-heavy shooting nature could impact playing time.
Jalen Brunson will obviously have the starting spot, but Korec could potentially play a role within the backup unit before the season ends.
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