The New York Knicks have three rookies this season: Ariel Hukporti, Tyler Kolek, and Pacome Dadiet. The trio hasn’t seen the floor much this season, with the bulk of their action coming in garbage time.
Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau praised the team’s rookie players
Nevertheless, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau still had great things to say about his rookies despite not being in the rotation. Kolek and Hukporti in particular got to see some time on the floor in Sunday’s blowout 140-106 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Every timeout, their spirit is there, they’re greeting guys as they’re coming off the floor,” Thibodeau said, via Sports Illustrated’s Geoff Maglioccheti. “Over the course of the season, you need everybody … How you prepare is huge, and those guys are a big part of that.”
The Knicks’ trio of rookies all have serious promise of being elite NBA talent. Dadiet was chosen in the first round out of France and has the potential to be an elite three-and-D wing player someday, though he is still a very raw prospect and needs time to develop.
The Knicks’ rookies could be impactful players one day
Kolek and Hukporti, both of whom were second-round picks this past year, seem closer to being NBA-ready but still have skills that need to be refined. Given the lack of center depth the Knicks currently have with Mitchell Robinson out, Hukporti has a chance to get a bigger opportunity and make an immediate impact.
For Thibodeau, he usually avoids playing rookies a significant amount of minutes, which is reasonable given their volatility and the need to develop. Additionally, the Knicks have title aspirations this season, so the organization is well past the phase of prioritizing player development.
Regardless, it is good that the rookies are still bringing a positive impact to the team despite not getting a ton of minutes. Thibodeau’s praise of them is a sign that he is gaining their trust, which could lead to larger roles within the team for them down the road.