Rick Pitino beat Tyler Kolek after the big Christmas game

St. John’s Basketball head coach Rick Pitino had a victory lap regarding his NBA draft prospects on Tyler Kolek after his performance in New York The Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124 during the Christmas holidays on Thursday afternoon.

Kolek is in his second year in the NBA with the Knicks. After a solid collegiate career at George Mason and Marquette, he made strides as he earned a solid role in the rotation as a spark plug off the bench.

Pitino provided his thoughts on Kolek ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft. He was viewed as a potential first-round pick, but the Portland Trail Blazers took him in the second round at No. 34 overall. He was later sent to New York in exchange for future compensation.

“Tyler Kolek is a sleeper pick in the late first round. He’s better than people think – he sees the play before it happens,” Pitino wrote.

Kolek dominated the Christmas game against Cleveland. In 25 minutes of action, he finished with statistics of 16 points, nine assists, three rebounds and a block. He shot 5-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.

After the game, Pitino retweeted a GIF of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski laughing, confirming his feelings back in 2024.

https://t.co/APOagAOLVC pic.twitter.com/f4dUIR83N6

— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) December 25, 2025

As Tyler Kolek, the Knicks played against the Cavaliers

Rick Pitino is proud to see Tyler Kolek make solid NBA contributions for the Knicks. His big performance against the Cavaliers was a big example of his rise in the rotation.

It took a while for New York to get into the game. They’ve fallen before when Cleveland led by as many as 17 points in the first half. Despite this, the hosts hit back as they ignited a rally in the second quarter, trading blows before delivering the final blow in the fourth period.

Perimeter shooting and tackles (steals and blocks) made the difference in this matchup. The Knicks won in both categories, making 21 3-pointers and recording 13 drives. It wasn’t the same for the Cavaliers as they converted 15 3-pointers and committed seven turnovers.

Six players scored in double figures for New York in the win, including Kolek. Jalen Brunson led the way with 34 points, four assists, two steals and a rebound. He shot 10-of-25 overall, including 6-of-12 from downtown and 8-of-10 from the charity stripe. Jordan Clarkson was next with 25 points and three steals, Josh Hart had 15 points and five rebounds, Mikal Bridges had 12 points and four assists, while Karl Anthony Towns had 11 points and 14 rebounds.

New York improved to 21-9 on the season, holding second place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are 2.5 games ahead of the Boston Celtics and 3.5 games ahead of the Toronto Raptors while trailing the Detroit Pistons by three games.

The Knicks will be looking forward to their next match, as they are on the road. They face the Atlanta Hawks on December 27th at 8:00 PM ET.