Tyler Kolek set a new career record in his first NBA start
The New York Knicks leaned on unexpected depth Tuesday night as rookie guard Tyler Kolek turned in a breakout performance in his first NBA start. With the Knicks dealing significant backcourt injuries, Kolek stepped into an expanded role and set a new career high against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The start for Kolek came out of necessity. Superstar guard Jalen Brunson, Myles McBride and Landry Shamet were all ruled out, forcing head coach Mike Brown to elevate the running back into the starting lineup. Although he was drafted in 2024, former standout Marquette is still considered a rookie due to limited NBA action last season, and the move paid dividends as he controlled the tempo, attacked mismatches and kept the offense organized despite an unfamiliar role.
Kolek’s stat line reflected his all-around impact and reinforced the Knicks rookie performance narrative that followed him throughout December. The second-round pick played with poise, aggressively jumping for his position and creating opportunities for teammates while taking on increased responsibilities on offense.
KnickMuse has accessed his official X (formerly known as Twitter) account, setting up a guardian account final numbers from his first professional start.
“Tyler Kolek in his first NBA start:
20 points (41% FG)
11 Rebounds
8 assists
3 steals”
The performance was achieved despite a difficult match and a challenging outcome. The Timberwolves pulled away late behind a dominant night from Karl-Anthony Towns, handing the Knicks a 115-104 loss. Still, Kolek’s display stood out as one of the few positives for the short-handed rotation.
Beyond the tentative score, the performance bolstered New York’s confidence in its development path. Kolek has already shown the ability to play off the bench, and his first NBA start further showed he can carry the offense when injuries hamper the backcourt. As the Knicks go through roster crunches, his presence adds short-term reliability and long-term upside to the rotation.
2025-12-24 05:35:00
