headtopics
What to Know About Tyler NickelCan Knicks Summer League Star Help Defending Champs As Rookie? New York Knicks rookie Tyler Nickel has shot the lights out at NBA Summer League.
Will the defending champs have a role for him next season? where top picks square off against each other, reunions are aplenty in the Vegas heat and some new faces make a name for themselves on the NBA stage.
One of the breakout stars of Summer League thus far is Tyler Nickel, the Knicks new sharpshooter who was the 47th pick in the draft.
Through three games, hes knocked down 13 three-pointers and has the shooting stroke that looks like it can translate to the next level immediately.
Hes the type of player that makes you say, whos that guy? if you were previously unaware of his game.The baggy jersey, the black undershirt and even his No.
55 jersey that gives him an easy Double Nickel nickname has only added to his Summer League lore.
Knicks wing and new NBA champion Josh Hart took notice of Nickels game immediately following New Yorks first game in Vegas, as he Vegas Summer League brings plenty of overreactions, but Nickel appears to have a real NBA skill already.That begs the question: Will he actually help the Knicks in their title defense? Heres what you need to know about New Yorks standout rookie and how he could fit into an already deep roster.
Tyler Nickel spent his final two college seasons at Vanderbilt | Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images The Knicks took Nickel with the 47th pick of last months NBA draft.After winning the title with a roster thats only getting more expensive and concerns about touching the NBAs dreaded second apron, New York traded out of the first round and ended up with two second round picks: Nickel and Jack Kayil, a guard out of Germany that was picked 39th.
Nickel was a four-year college player and spent his final two seasons at Vanderbilt.He began his collegiate career at North Carolina before he transferred to Virginia Tech after one season.
He left the Hokies after his sophomore year and landed with Vanderbilt during his second time in the NCAAs transfer portal.
As a freshman with the Tar Heels, he averaged 6.0 minutes per game off the bench on a North Carolina team that included Caleb Love, Armando Bacot, Leaky Black and Pete Nance.His workload increased dramatically at Virginia Tech as he averaged 8.8 points per game in 33 appearances and seven starts.
He became a two-year starter once he became a Commodore, arriving with new Vandy coach Mark Byington.
Nickel shot 40% or better from three-point range in both seasons with the program as one of the top marksman across college basketball.Vanderbilt went to the NCAA tournament both seasons he was with the programthe Commodores were a No.
5 seed last season and lost to Nebraska in the second round.
Nickel averaged a career-high 13.5 points per game as a senior before he declared for the draft.
The shooting is his standout skill, but he made strides as a defender last season which hes already showcasing at Summer League.At 67", his size is a plus and hes an elite off-ball mover which gets him consistent clean looks.
, the Knicks have 13 of 15 spots filled on their standard roster for next season, while New York has all of its three two-way spots open.
With just 13 players, the franchise is already hovering near the second apron .The Knicks lost big men Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, to which they signed Andre Drummond to a one-year, veteran minimum deal as Karl-Anthony Townss backup.
The roster is currently lacking a third center in case of injury or foul troublea third big is likely Knicks president Leon Roses top priority with the little space he has to work with.However, if Nickel ends up on a two-way deal, he can be active for the Knicks for up to 50 regular-season games.
A two-way contract leaves the door open for New York to sign Nickel to a standard NBA contract when the franchise sees fit, say if he makes an immediate impact and looks like he could contribute in the playoffs.
Nickel may have a path to real minutes with the Knicks, too.Tom Thibodeau was long reluctant to give young players significant time, but Mike Brown gave Hukporti, Tyler Kolek and Mohamed Diawara around 10 minutes per game apiece last season in his first year as the teams coach.
The stakes are as high as possible now that New York has a title to defend, but Nickel could bring his superior shooting off the bench as a microwave scorer, especially if Landry Shamet, Miles McBride or Jordan Clarkson have to miss any time.For rookiesespecially those of the second-round varietyto carve out a real immediate role, they must impact the game in more ways than one.
Nickel improved defensively as a senior at Vanderbilt, recording career highs in both steals and blocks.
He said at Summer League he wants to showcase his defensive ability although the shooting is what stands out..I think everybody knows I can shoot the ball.
Just show my physicality and my motor on the defensive end.
If he can do that, Brown will have a difficult time keeping the rookie sharpshooter off the floor.
The silky shooting stroke has already popped.If theres more to come, the rich only got richer with the Knicks addition of Nickel.
Blake Silverman is a writer at Sports Illustrated, primarily covering the NBA and WNBA.
Before joining SI in November 2024 as a breaking/trending news writer, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation and A10Talk.Hes an alum of both Michigan State and St.
Bonaventure University, receiving a masters degree from the Bonnies sports journalism program.
Outside of work, hes a husband, father, yogi and fairly mediocre tennis player whos open to any tips on how to play defense in EA Sports College Football.