I’ll forgive you if you didn’t set aside time to watch the Knicks play last year in Summer League.
Summer Knicks are ready for Vegas 🔒 pic.twitter.com/ShiYpfS246
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) July 3, 2023
The Knicks didn’t own any of their picks in last year’s draft, and subsequently had a roster that was… uninspiring. The biggest storylines heading into Vegas were if Isaiah Roby would perform well enough to make the main roster (he didn’t), and if Trevor Keels would earn himself another two-way deal with his play (he didn’t). Charlie Brown Jr. was the only player who did anything to boost his stock, and the Knicks limped to an unremarkable 2-3 record.
Now, contrast that with their 2021 Summer League roster two years prior.
The Knicks had four rookies fresh out of the draft; Quentin Grimes, Rokas Jokubaitis (more on him soon), Miles McBride, and Jericho Sims.
They added sophomore first round picks Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin to the roster, and something fun was starting to brew.
It’s almost surreal watching these highlights now. While only Deuce McBride and Jericho Sims remain members of the team today, the Knicks were trotting out lineups that would define the direction of their franchise each and every game. The team would end up 4-2, and it ended up being must-see basketball for Knicks fans.
Already missing Knicks basketball.
Reliving the top 🔟 plays from Summer League! pic.twitter.com/ZBQBGjVfZJ
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) August 22, 2021
The 2024 Summer League roster is yet to be finalized, but there are some similarities between this year’s summer squad and the one in 2021.
Once again, the Knicks have picks number 25, 34, and 58 joining them as rookies. (Actually, eerily similar.) Once again, the Knicks have former draft capital looking to establish themselves within the franchise. And most importantly, once again, the Knicks should be must-see TV for the duration of Vegas Summer League.
They have four recent draftees (Pacome Dadiet, Tyler Kolek, Kevin McCullar, Ariel Hukporti) looking to prove themselves with the organization. Dadiet and Hukporti are international exports, while Kolek and McCullar both flourished at the collegiate level.
2024 #NBADraft recap ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/pKfpNY9nzO
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) June 28, 2024
Additionally, Rokas Jokubaitis is back for more. He’s been stashed in Europe ever since after the 2021 Summer League, but is now back for another cup of coffee against American competition. His performance over the next few weeks will dictate if an NBA career is in the cards for him.
With other dudes like Alex O’Connell, Justin Lewis, and Semkolo Cele expected to round out the roster, a performance reminiscent of 2021 + 2022 (where the Knicks made the SL finals) is not out of the question.
That being said . . . not everything has remained the same over the past three years.
The main difference is the load expected to be shouldered by the rookie class immediately out of the gate.
In stark contrast to much of recent Knicks’ history, the youngins have time to develop. Pacome Dadiet is only 18, but unlike his French teenage predecessor, Frank Ntilikina, he will have time to be properly coached up and develop like the teenager he is.
Tyler Kolek won’t be asked to dish double-digit assists every night on NBA floors – he’ll have time to learn how to in the G League.
Kevin McCullar can learn how to score at the next level in Westchester, not under the bright lights of MSG. And Ariel Hukporti will learn how to protect the rim under the guidance of DeSagana Diop, not Tom Thibodeau.
These new-look Baby Knicks will tiptoe into the spotlight this summer, but will have time to grow into themselves. Yes, we may not see them with roles in the big leagues for some time. But I’d be shocked if there weren’t legitimate rotation players suiting up for the Knicks this summer, and if the chemistry can come together early, they could set Vegas ablaze with excitement.
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