Tyler Kolek may be stuck in a tricky spot on the Knicks’ depth chart, but his approach hasn’t changed.
New York heads into its championship defense with most of the rotation already sorted out. The starting five is in place, the main bench pieces are lined up, and even the backup center debate is the one area that has left some fans wanting more. That leaves Kolek, now in his third year, as one of the few players still trying to carve out a clearer lane.
That doesn’t seem to be bothering him. Kolek talked recently about wanting more consistency in his game, pointing to a stretch where he felt he was too passive and saying the next step is to stay aggressive.
"Early on in the season, I was finishing at a high level. And then later on in the year, I was getting in there, maybe I was looking a little too passive," Kolek said recently, via the New York Post.
"So just looking for my shot, being more aggressive in the paint, and then that opens everything else up. Having the defense collapse, and then finding sprays for our guys."
He also made clear how much he can learn from Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ captain and reigning Finals MVP. For Kolek, Brunson’s game offers a blueprint for a smaller guard who has to make every touch count.
"Obviously, Jalen is amazing in the midrange, amazing with floaters, finishing at the rim," Kolek said. "So taking that aspect of the game as a smaller guard-I need to be really efficient in the paint and around the rim. And that'll open everything else for us."
Like plenty of Knicks after the title run, Kolek has enjoyed the offseason. But he also knows the celebration can’t last forever, and he said the group has to keep its focus inward.
"Internally we got to block out what the fans are thinking and everything that the media is going to say," Kolek said. "We shouldn't have to be motivated.
We're champions. We know what it looks like.
And we're not just satisfied with one."
That mindset is exactly what New York wants to hear from a player whose future is still uncertain. Kolek remains the subject of trade rumors, and even if he stays with the Knicks, regular minutes would likely depend on injuries opening the door.
Still, he’s handled the situation the right way. He has stayed patient, stayed confident, and kept his focus on improving instead of complaining about his role.
That kind of response has become a calling card during Leon Rose’s tenure. The Knicks have consistently brought in players and coaches who arrive with the right attitude, put the team first, and keep pushing to get better. Kolek fits that mold, too.
For New York, that’s a useful sign. And for any team watching from the outside, it’s a reminder that even without a steady role, Kolek is still doing the work and staying ready for whenever his chance comes.
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