Tyler Kolek's NBA Journey Comes Full Circle

Strategic Insights -

Tyler Kolek, the 6-foot-1 point guard from Cumberland, Rhode Island, has completed his incredible journey from unheralded recruit to Two-time Consensus All-American. Picked at No. 34 by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round of the NBA draft, Kolek was immediately traded to the New York Knicks. Despite being viewed as a mid-to-late first rounder, Kolek's below-average physical attributes pushed him to the second round. However, his exceptional awareness and feel for the game, as well as his improvement as a shooter, have made him an attractive prospect for the Knicks.

Key Takeaways:

  • Tyler Kolek, a 6-foot-1 point guard from Cumberland, Rhode Island, was picked at No. 34 by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round of the NBA draft.
  • Kolek was immediately traded to the New York Knicks, where he will have the opportunity to learn from current Knicks point guard and NBA star Jalen Brunson.
  • Despite being viewed as a mid-to-late first rounder, Kolek's below-average physical attributes, including rankings in five different tangibles categories at the NBA combine, impacted his draft position.
  • Kolek's exceptional awareness and feel for the game, as well as his improvement as a shooter, have made him an attractive prospect for the Knicks.
  • In his three seasons at Marquette, Kolek dominated the pick-and-roll and ran the Golden Eagles' high-octane, NBA-styled offense.
  • Kolek's shooting improved significantly, going from a 28% 3-point clip as a sophomore to an average of 39.3% from deep in his junior and senior years.
  • Kolek now has the chance to potentially play in the same arena where he won the 2023 Big East tournament.

Statistics:

  • Kolek was picked 34th overall in the second round of the NBA draft.
  • He was immediately traded to the New York Knicks.
  • Kolek's assist average led the country at 7.7 per game during his senior season.
  • He averaged 15.3 points per contest during his senior season.
  • Kolek finished below average in five different tangibles categories at the NBA combine.
  • Kolek shot an average of 39.3% from 3-point range during his junior and senior years.

Sources:

  • PaintTouches, MU stat blog
  • Jack Albright, article by