A small reason the Knicks struggled to advance in the postseason this past year was a lack of depth at point guard. The shooting guard position had ample support, with Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo stepping into starting roles when injuries arose. Overplaying Jalen Brunson inevitably led to high injury probability.
Knicks’ Depth at Guard: Future Outlook
The Knicks now have robust solutions off the bench, with DiVincenzo and Hart returning to rotational roles, not to mention Miles McBride offering support at guard. However, there was a significant weakness behind Jalen Brunson due to a lack of ball handlers.
Anytime Brunson came off the floor, the Knicks’ scoring efficiency dramatically decreased. He produced 28.7 points per game this past season, including 3.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and shot .479 from the field and .401 from three-point range. He ranked 5th in MVP voting and delivered a campaign worthy of every dollar on his recent contract extension.
Addressing Backup Point Guard
However, the Knicks needed to address the minutes available when Brunson is off the floor. Now, the team has Cameron Payne and rookie second-rounder Tyler Kolek to help offset any potential offensive lapses.
Payne, 29, signed a one-year, $3.1 million deal to assist at point guard. He produced 7.4 points and 2.6 assists this past season over just 16.7 minutes per contest with Milwaukee and Philadelphia. He’s a reliable reserve who shot .390 from three-point range last year and is a .369 shooter from deep in his career.
Emerging Talent: Tyler Kolek
Recent reports have suggested that Kolek could be the second point guard behind Brunson. The Marquette product had a first-round grade by the Knicks but slipped to the second round, providing substantial value. The 34th overall selection brings an elite skill: vision.
This past season for Marquette, he averaged 15.3 points but, most importantly, provided 7.7 assists per game. During Summer League play for the Knicks, he averaged seven assists per contest and showcased some dazzling passes that certainly caught the attention of the Knicks brass. If he can improve his defensive efforts, he should carve out a significant role for himself as a rookie.
Kolek isn’t expected to match Brunson’s scoring production, but he can effectively find open and high-probability looks for his teammates, which is equally important. If the second team features Kolek and DiVincenzo, that duo could be formidable, given the veteran’s ability to create space and Kolek’s peripheral vision.
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Role of Miles McBride
This unit is far more competent than in previous years, and while McBride could be part of this equation, he doesn’t have the best passing qualities. His shooting has improved significantly, and his defense is legitimate, so there will be minutes for him, but he shouldn’t be a primary ball handler based on his skill set.