Former Kansas wing Kevin McCullar Jr. is getting another shot with the New York Knicks.
The team announced Sept. 27 that McCullar, 25, has signed a two-way contract, bringing him back for a third season in the organization. The 6-foot-7, 210-pound guard from San Antonio, Texas, first landed with New York after the 2024 NBA Draft, when Phoenix took him 56th overall and then dealt him to the Knicks on draft night.
McCullar spent the last two seasons splitting time between New York and the Westchester Knicks, the club’s G League affiliate. He has now played 21 games for the NBA champion Knicks in 2025-26, and his best scoring night came April 12 against Charlotte, when he put up a career-high 14 points along with two steals and two rebounds.
One of his most memorable stretches came in December in Atlanta, when Josh Hart was injured and McCullar stepped in with 13 points, including three 3-pointers, plus eight rebounds in a win.
His G League work also gave New York plenty to evaluate. In 10 games for Westchester, McCullar averaged 16.8 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.
Before his NBA run, McCullar made his mark at Kansas after transferring from Texas Tech. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior, averaging 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
He was back on the floor Monday in New York’s preseason opener for 2026-27, scoring six points on 2-of-5 shooting, missing all three of his 3-point attempts, and adding four rebounds in 10 minutes of a 120-97 loss to Philadelphia.
According to SI.com, only four Knicks have been with the team longer than McCullar: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Miles McBride.
“McCullar brings size and upside to a wing spot where New York can never have enough depth,” writes Matthew Miranda of SI.com. “He was expected to earn a first-round selection out of Kansas, but a knee injury late in his final season kept him out of the NCAA Tournament and caused him to slip to the second round. The Knicks coaches and medical teams have invested in his health and his outside shot.
“His combination of familiarity, upside and production in limited doses could prove the edge if the last roster spot comes down to McCullar Jr. and someone like Ochai Agbaji, a more proven pro but not one who’s done anything for New York.”
Agbaji, another former KU wing, recently signed with the Knicks on an Exhibit 9 contract. He scored one point in eight minutes Monday and went 0-for-3 from beyond the arc. Now entering his fifth NBA season, Agbaji has also played for Utah, Toronto and Brooklyn, but there is no guarantee he makes New York’s roster.
In Other News...
Kansas Just Landed A Late Roster Win That Changes Everything
Kansas picked up a significant late roster boost for the 2026-27 season with Melvin Council Jr. set to return after a legal ruling in his eligibility case. For a program that always has to balance talent, experience and continuity, keeping a productive guard in the fold matters, especially one who already knows the system and fits into what the Jayhawks want to do on both ends.
Council gave Kansas reliable production last season and quickly became a meaningful piece of the rotation, bringing the kind of backcourt stability that is hard to replace this late in the process. His presence gives the Jayhawks added depth and another proven option as they shape the roster, even if the final chapter on his eligibility situation still leaves one part of the story worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Makes A Key O-Line Change Before Huge Utah Test
Kansas is making a notable shuffle up front as it prepares for a tough Utah matchup, with Lance Leipold adjusting the interior of the offensive line to try to settle things down. The move gives Amir Herring a bigger role after he had already been pressed into duty in another spot when injury thinned the depth chart, a sign of how much the Jayhawks have had to lean on versatility to keep the line intact.
Herrings expanded responsibility comes with the kind of week-to-week pressure that can shape an offense against a physical opponent, while Tavake Tuikolovatu is set to remain in the mix as a rotational option. For Kansas, the change is about finding the right combination before a game that could demand a clean pocket and a steadier run game than the Jayhawks have had at times. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Finally Got The Response Fans Needed Before Big 12 Play
After a rocky opening month, Kansas needed a clean, convincing answer before Big 12 play arrived, and Saturdays trip to Middle Tennessee delivered exactly that kind of reset. The Jayhawks controlled the game from start to finish in a 55-0 win that pushed them to 2-2, giving the offense a chance to find rhythm and the defense a chance to reassert itself in the kind of all-around performance the season had been missing.
The balance showed up everywhere, from explosive runs to efficient passing to a defense that never let Middle Tennessee settle in. Kansas piled up production in bunches and completely suffocated the Blue Raiders, a reminder that this roster can look a lot different when the pieces click together. The only thing left now is whether the momentum carries into conference play, where the margin for error shrinks fast. [Read more 🡒]
