Jalen Brunson Full Of Praise For Breakout Young Guard After Strong Showings

The New York Knicks came into the 2025–26 season with plenty of optimism under new head coach Mike Brown, and thus far, things are going well for them. For the first time in three seasons, the Knicks not only made it to the NBA Cup Finals but also claimed the third-ever title after a strong showing against the San Antonio Spurs.

While the likes of OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson stepped up, it was second-year guard Tyler Kolek who had the performance of his life in the league. That continued in their next game after he put up 16, 11, and 6 on 7–10 shooting from the floor, with the young guard forcing his way into the rotation.

In a post-game interview, Brunson made sure to highlight the 24-year-old, shouting him out after back-to-back performances had seemingly solidified his place in the Knicks rotation.

"I want to thank the Lord for Tyler Kolek. Playing the way he's playing, saving me… Dude's always in the gym. Even blackout days, I take pride being the only one & he's right there."

Clearly, the Knicks found themselves a gem when they drafted him No. 34 in the 2024 NBA Draft, and with 30 points on 12–21 shooting in his last two games, they've got themselves a genuine role player.

Only time will tell if he can keep that role, but he's clearly impressed both Mike Brown and the rest of the team, and with the Knicks needing depth, expect him to play a major role for the team moving forward.