Knicks beginner Tyler Kolek was named G League Showcase MVP as he helped Westchester win its second straight Winter Cup title with a victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Sunday night.
Kolek looked impressive just hours after leaving the big league club’s game in New Orleans on Friday night.
The youngster came off the bench for Westchester and finished with 22 points on an impressive 9-of-16 shooting from the field while dishing out a game-high 11 assists, grabbing five rebounds and collecting three steals in 21 minutes.
“It’s like when you have a group project and you join at the last minute and you get an A,” he says. said on ESPN after the match. “Shout out to my teammates, they’ve worked hard all year. I love playing with them, it’s like family here, so it’s been fun.”
The Knicks received widespread praise after selecting Kolek out of Marquette with their second-round pick in this year’s draft.
After shining in Summer League games, the 23-year-old point guard earned himself a spot coming off the pro bench early in the season, and he’s been impressive despite averaging just 6.6 minutes.
Due to his limited role, New York has bounced Kolek between Westchester and the NBA roster over the past two weeks to help him stay fresh, and Sunday’s performance was another positive step in his development.
It will be interesting to see if the front office decides to keep him in the G League for the time being with a veteran guard. Landry Shamet re-signed and ready to join the team after missing three months with a shoulder injury.
