Tyler Kolek Shines in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — Tyler Kolek left Sin City on a high note, certainly in a better place than when he arrived.

It’s hard to overstate how crucial he is for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson himself stated it clearly. Those two games in Las Vegas, including the semifinals and finals, were arguably the best of Kolek’s early career.

These standout performances might influence the Knicks’ plans regarding a backup point guard. They could be looking for an upgrade.

Kolek played a pivotal role in the Knicks’ impressive 124-113 comeback win against the Spurs on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena.

“He played great,” Brunson remarked. “I’m really happy for him. It might be surprising to some, but not many see how hard he works. He was essential for us tonight. It’s a big time for him.”

The Knicks had been trailing for a significant part of the game but outscored the Spurs by 16 points in the fourth quarter, with Kolek on the court for almost the entire game. Coach Mike Brown opted to keep Kolek in the final minutes instead of Mikal Bridges. Kolek ended with 14 points, five assists, and five rebounds, contributing a plus-14.

Throughout the night, Spurs defenders were notably aggressive, especially targeting Brunson. Brown’s choice to pair Kolek with Brunson helped alleviate some pressure and proved to be effective.

Kolek’s impressive run continued after a solid performance in Saturday’s semifinal against the Magic, where he also played most of the minutes starting from the fourth quarter.

“For any rookie or young player, what he’s achieving should be a model for us,” Josh Hart noted. “He’s demonstrating how to earn time on the court.”

Kolek was projected to earn around $2 million this year, and the prize for winning the Cup is substantial, at $530,933 per player.

As Hart sunk the final basket of the game, he glanced at Kolek and playfully flashed a money sign with his hand.

Maybe it was fitting—in Vegas, Kolek has certainly become quite the collector, and the moment felt just right.