Tyler Kolek Delivers When It Matters Most, Lifts Knicks to NBA Cup Glory
The New York Knicks are NBA Cup champions-and Tyler Kolek just might be the biggest reason why. In a season that started with questions about his future, the second-year point guard answered in the loudest way possible: by stepping up in the biggest game of his young career and helping deliver a title to Madison Square Garden.
Let’s rewind for a second. Not long ago, Kolek’s spot on the Knicks’ roster wasn’t even guaranteed.
The front office was weighing options, and the idea of moving on from Kolek to clear space for a veteran like Landry Shamet or Malcolm Brogdon was very much on the table. When Brogdon retired, Kolek stayed-but even then, it felt like a temporary reprieve.
He wasn’t in the rotation, and the Knicks were a win-now team with little room for developmental projects.
That situation put a spotlight squarely on the Knicks’ front office. Leon Rose and company had used the 34th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to take Kolek-a range where teams hope to find hidden gems, not roster filler.
And with players like Jaylen Wells, Ajay Mitchell, Jamal Shead, Quinten Post, and Cam Spencer-all drafted after Kolek-already carving out roles on playoff-caliber teams, the pressure was on. If Kolek didn’t pop, it was going to reflect poorly on the Knicks’ scouting and development.
Fast forward to the NBA Cup Final, and Kolek didn’t just pop-he exploded.
Kolek Seizes His Moment on the Biggest Stage
The Knicks came into the title game facing the San Antonio Spurs, a team that’s young but dangerous, led by the towering presence of Victor Wembanyama. New York had the veteran edge, but Wembanyama is the kind of player who tilts the floor just by stepping on it. And for much of the game, it looked like the Spurs might pull off the upset.
Then came the fourth quarter-and Tyler Kolek.
With Miles McBride out due to injury and Mikal Bridges sidelined in crunch time (whether for injury or coaching decision, he didn’t see the floor in the fourth), Mike Brown turned to Kolek. And the young point guard delivered.
He played with poise well beyond his years. Defensively, he fought through screens, stayed in front of his man, and disrupted passing lanes.
Offensively, he was the connective tissue the Knicks needed-moving the ball, cutting with purpose, pushing the pace, and making the right reads. He didn’t force anything, but he didn’t shy away either.
He was active, engaged, and, most importantly, effective.
And when the Knicks needed someone to close the game? They closed with Kolek.
Not Bridges. Not a veteran.
Kolek.
One Game, One Statement
Now, let’s keep things in perspective-one game doesn’t make a career. Kolek still has a long way to go.
He might settle into a role as a solid backup, or maybe he develops into a low-end starter. But for one night, on one of the biggest stages of the season, he was exactly what the Knicks needed.
Without Kolek, the Knicks don’t win the NBA Cup. It’s that simple.
And that changes things. For Kolek, it’s a moment that validates his place in the league.
For the Knicks, it’s a win that justifies the faith they showed in him on draft night. And for a fanbase that’s seen its fair share of false dawns, it’s a reason to believe that this team is building something real-with a young point guard who’s proving he belongs.
The New York Knicks are NBA Cup champions. Tyler Kolek helped make it happen. And now, the future looks a little brighter-for him, and for the team that bet on him.