Tyler Kolek SPEAKS OUT On Limited Role This Season... | Knicks News | The Knicks Recap Podcast

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Tyler Kolek just conducted an exclusive interview. And in that interview, he revealed his thoughts on his limited role, Mitchell Robinson leaving and how he's improved his game over the summer. We're gonna break down all of these latest reports today.

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And now, let's get started.

Tyler Kolek speaks out on his limited role. Kolek has been working on his game all summer. He's been working on his body so he can get stronger. He is ready to make an impact, but he also understands there's a lot of competition ahead of him in terms of his playing time. According to Kolek, I just gotta play my game every day. Be consistent. Whatever the coaches need, just follow their direction and let it be what it is. Kolek isn't in control of his minutes. He is, however, in control of what he does with the opportunities that he gets. However limited. For an NBA champion looking to protect its throne, Kolek knows there's much more to his game than he's been able to display. In short stints over his two NBA seasons, according to Kolek once again, there's definitely a lot for me to show. Every year I try and get better. That's how it's been since college. Year over year. From my first in the NBA and last year. The improvement. Now I'm just looking forward to improving on that.

Kolek also goes on to say the following. Early on in the season last year, I was finishing at a high level. And then later on in the year, I was getting in there. Maybe I was looking a little too passive. So just looking for my shot. Being more aggressive in the paint. And then that opens up everything else. Having the defense collapse. And then finding sprays for our guys.

Kolek has been working on his game all summer and adding different elements to his game. He's been following one player already on the team. I'm talking about Jalen Brunson.

According to Kolek, Obviously, Jalen is amazing in the mid-range. Amazing with floaters. Finishing at the rim. So taking that aspect of the game as a smaller guard, I need to be really efficient in the paint and around the rim. And that'll open up everything else for us. Clearly, taking some of Jalen Brunson's game and adapting it to his own. Kolek invoked Brunson's name when discussing the improvements he hopes to make entering year 3 According to Kolek once again, Mostly in the paint, playing off too. Obviously, Jalen is amazing in the mid-range. The floaters, finishing at the rim. So I feel like just taking that aspect of the game as a smaller guard, being efficient in the paint and around the rim. Kolek also discussed what it's going to feel like playing that first game of the regular season.

According to Kolek, I think the very first game will feel like a great celebration. But internally, you've got to block out all things the fans are saying and the things that the media is gonna say. Even though we're not picked to be the favorites, New York fans are still gonna say we're the champs. But we gotta stay locked in on our habits and focus on what we've got to do every day.

Speaking about opening night, Kolek said the following about facing the 76ers.

The 76ers are now considered among many as the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, with LeBron James and Jalen Brown joining Joellen Bede, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecomb. According to Kolek, I think you can take anything and use that to light a fire under you. Anything you can use to be motivated. But at this stage, we really shouldn't have to be motivated. We're champions. We know what it looks like. And we're not satisfied with one.

Kolek also said the following after the Knicks won a championship and the Eastern Conference made moves to get better. According to Kolek, it happens every year in the NBA. The Thunder won the year before. Everybody loads up to try to beat the Thunder. We win and the same thing happens. It happens every single year. It's a copycat league. Teams are trying to beat the best and compete with the best. So they do what they can. But Kolek also believes there's definitely a lot left for him to show in year three.