The NBA season is young. No team has played more than five games.
But no club is under the microscope more so than the reigning champion New York Knicks, who are 2-3 to start the year.
Things are turning around after winning back-to-back games, but what do the first five games tell us about the player and/or team’s direction? How about some bold predictions for the remaining 77 games?
Tyler Kolek will be a 6MOY finalist
The smallest sample size of anything we’ll be discussing today is the early-season surge of guard Tyler Kolek.
Thanks to an injury to Jose Alvarado, he’s been plugged back into head coach Mike Brown’s rotation. And he’s shining.
Kolek leads all players who’ve played 90 or less minutes in total assists with 21. Oh and he’s only played 45 minutes, and hasn’t recorded a turnover to boot.
After the Knicks’ latest win over the Chicago Bulls, Kolek talked with James Edwards III of The Athletic about balancing his pass-first play without turning the ball over:
“That was something last year that they were on me for sure,” he told The Athletic. “Early on I started similar, low turnovers. But as the year went on and I was getting more comfortable, maybe a little more lackadaisical. And like you said, agressive passer. Because if you get your guys shots, you’re going to throw some tight windows. Just got to find that balance. For me, it’s hitting the singles. Not trying to make the home run play. Just trying to get us in the offense, get the best shot for our team.”
When you watch Kolek play, he’s the definition of a table-setter. His shot is the last thing he’s looking for. 100% of his makes have been assisted three-pointers.
Mike Brown will have a decision to make once Alvarado has cleared his ankle sprain. But at this rate, look for a link to vote Kolek for Sixth Man of the Year come Spring.
Knicks will trade Mikal Bridges in midseason blockbuster
Onto a player who’s done more harm than good; Mikal Bridges is currently amidst one of the worst slumps of his career, let alone his Knicks tenure.
Bridges has the lowest true shooting percentage (33.8%) of the entire NBA, minimum 30 shot attempts, per NBA.com. And only Sion James of the Charlotte Hornets has scored fewer points this season, minimum 125 minutes played.
His latest effort against the Chicago Bulls saw him benched for the final 21 minutes of what became a 19-point comeback for New York. Bridges looks disinterested on defense, shy on offense, and absent in the biggest moments.
The more Brown steers away from him down the stretch, the easier it is to envision a version of this team without the two-way wing. Perhaps the NBA’s ever-changing landscape could provide an opportunity to get better by the trade deadline.
If this is the version of Bridges the Knicks are getting this season, then this prediction is less bold and more prophetic. One thing about Leon Rose: he won’t shy away from trade talks if the right player is available.
Karl-Anthony Towns learned that the hard way last season during the Giannis Antetokounmpo saga. Speaking of Towns…
Karl-Anthony Towns will sign a midseason extension
This may be the least bold of all three, but hey, New York did come out and say they were putting all contract talks on hold.
No one is playing better for the Knicks than Towns, who’s rattled off five-straight double-doubles to start the year.
He’s averaging 21.8 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while knocking down 41% of his 4.4 three-point attempts nightly.
Towns is the best player in the league waiting on a contract resolution. I’m fully expecting Rose and the front office to open up the checkbook ahead of the offseason.
New York’s season will continue on Friday, when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers for an opening-night rematch. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 pm EST on Prime.
