The New York Knicks will tip off their Summer League run on Saturday, July 13th when they take on the Charlotte Hornets in Las Vegas, Nevada. New York boasts one of the NBA’s most exciting Summer League rosters, featuring all four of their draft picks from the 2024 NBA Draft, among others.
Here is a look at who Knicks fans should pay close attention to during this year’s Summer League.
2021 second-round pick will join the Knicks in Vegas for Summer League action
G Rokas Jokubaitis, the intriguing Lithuanian prospect who was drafted 34th overall by the Knicks in 2021, will join the team in Las Vegas this summer. Jokubaitis appeared in three Summer League games for the Knicks in 2021, but departed to play overseas after. The 23-year-old has spent the last three seasons playing overseas and will be playing in front of the Knicks’ brass for the first time since being drafted three years ago.
Rumblings have emerged this offseason that Jokubaitis may join the Knicks for next season following their best season in decades. This move to join the Summer League Knicks only confirms those initial rumors. The 23-year-old will be looking to show the Knicks that he is ready to be a contributor now, and could play himself onto the team’s full roster with a good Summer League showing.
All four of the Knicks’ draft picks from this year’s draft will appear in Vegas
Pacome Dadiet, Tyler Kolek, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Ariel Hukporti, all selected by the Knicks in the 2024 NBA Draft, will be a part of the team’s Summer League roster. Out of this group, Kolek and Hukporti will be the players to watch, as the Knicks have clear holes at the backup guard and backup center positions.
Dadiet has expressed an interest in playing in the NBA next season despite rumors that he would be a draft-and-stash pick, and McCullar Jr. will likely have to play his way onto the roster with a good Summer League.
After not selecting anyone in the 2023 NBA Draft, this group of players appearing in the Summer League will provide Knicks fans with added excitement to tune in.
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Knicks’ two-way contract players looking to make an impression
F Jacob Toppin and G Duane Washington Jr., who were on the Knicks roster last season as two-way contract players, will be featured on the team’s Summer League roster.
Toppin is the younger brother of former Knicks lottery pick Obi Toppin, who is now with the Indiana Pacers. Jacob spent most of last season in the G-League, but did appear in nine games for the Knicks in the regular season, mostly in garbage time, or mop-up role situations.
As for Washington Jr., he has appeared in 79 games in his NBA career, splitting time between the Indiana Pacers, and Phoenix Suns. He has averaged 9.1 points per game in his NBA career but spent all of last season in Westchester with the Knicks G-League affiliate. In 11 appearances, Washington Jr. averaged 22.5 points per game in the G-League, while boasting impressive 44%/39%/80% shooting splits.
New York’s 2024 Summer League roster features a lot of interesting storylines. Many players on the roster will be looking to make a good impression to earn their way onto the Knicks’ roster next season, in hopes of being a contributor to a team that will enter next season as title contenders.
