Skills expert Chris Brickley defended Tyler Kolek, who is currently trying to find success with the New York Knicks at the NBA Summer League.
Tyler Kolek is a player many New York Knicks fans have backed since his arrival in the NBA. The #34 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft became a big hit with fans almost instantly.
It was Kolek’s NBA Summer League outings with the Knicks last year that earned him the vocal support of one of the most demanding fan bases in the NBA.
During the 2024-25 season, Kolek earned then-Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau’s trust and support, getting opportunities with the main team and their G-League affiliate.
Of course, Kolek did have his poor performance in a Knicks uniform. But the young star did shine more often than he failed.
In his second stint in the NBA Summer League, Kolek has shone again. Despite these strong outings, one of the NBA’s most trusted trainers believes NBA fans shouldn’t take too much from this run.
Chris Brickley, one of the most trusted independent trainers among NBA players, spoke about Tyler Kolek’s performance against the Indiana Pacers on X, where the guard went 6-15 and scored just 14 points with five assists.
Brickley claimed that despite his shooting struggles, Kolek played well. But to judge Kolek based on his Summer League performances would be unfair. Brickley added that Kolek proved he can be a backup guard in the NBA.
“My boy had some great plays!! But let’s keep it 100. As a pass-first point guard like Tyler Kolek, the Summer League is not equal to the real NBA. He’s surrounded by a bunch of G-League/Overseas players.
“Also, you could tell opposing teams’ defensive strategies were to be physical and disrupt (sic) Tyler from doing what he does.
“I’m also a realist. Tyler Kolek had some moments that could have [been] better, but he showed he knows how to run an offense from the backup position in the league!”
One would hope that the New York Knicks’ coaching staff would agree with Brickley. After all, the NBA Summer League is merely an opportunity for players to get some reps under a new set-up ahead of the NBA season.
We have seen several players light it up in the NBA Summer League, only to disappoint when given a similar opportunity in the regular season.
As such, one difficult shooting night for Kolek shouldn’t impact his minutes allocation next season. Much like last year, Kolek is going to be a two-way player, splitting his time in the G-League.
But the Knicks will give him some more reps in the NBA next season. Especially with new head coach Mike Brown looking to better understand his players.
If Kolek can work his way into the Knicks’ rotation next season, it will be a big leap from a development standpoint for the young guard.
