The New York Knicks selected Marquette’s Tyler Kolek with the 34th pick (via Portland) in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Thursday afternoon.
The 6-foot-3 point guard averaged a career-high 15.1 points per game during his senior year where he started all 31 games he played in.
Kolek earned plenty of accolades during his three years at Marquette after transferring from George Mason following his freshman year. He was named two-time All Big-East, was the 2022-23 Big East Player of the Year and was named Big East Tournament MVP in 2023.
The Cumberland, Rhode Island native also had a career-best in assists (7.7), rebounds (4.9) and free throw percentage (85 percent) in 2023.
KNICKS’ PROJECTED LINEUP:Here’s how it looks following Mikal Bridges trade, OG Anunoby contract
Here’s a scouting report via ESPN’s Jonathan Givony on Kolek:
“Kolek picked opposing defenses apart last season out of pick-and-rolls, whipping the ball around to shooters, getting to floaters and proving opportunistic in shooting; he hit 39% of his shots from beyond the arc. His average tools might make him divisive among NBA teams, but his approach and feel for the game will appeal to franchises looking for a backup point guard.”
This is the second pick the Knicks have made in the draft after selecting 18-year-old French prospect Pacome Dadiet 25th overall Wednesday night.
It’s been a week full of moves for the franchise, as they made the trade of the offseason so far, acquiring Mikal Bridges and a 2026 second round pick from the Nets for Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first round picks (2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031), a 2025 protected first round pick (via Milwaukee), a 2025 second round pick and unprotected pick swap in 2028.
Yesterday, the Knicks decided to sign O.G. Anunoby, who they traded for prior to last season’s trade deadline, to a massive five-year, $212.5 million deal.
