00:06Three games into NBA Summer League and the Knicks have already discovered something more
00:11valuable than their record in Las Vegas.
00:13Tyler Nichol can flat out shoot.
00:17This doesn't appear to be a case of maybe he develops into a shooter or the mechanics
00:22look promising.
00:23It's been a straight sniper showing for Nichol in Sin City.
00:26The Knicks selected Nichol with the 47th pick because they believed his shooting could translate
00:31and through the first three games, he supplied some immediate evidence.
00:3513 made threes, nearly 45% from beyond the arc and an average of 14.3 points per game.
00:41For a championship team searching for inexpensive players with identifiable NBA skills, Nichol
00:47is beginning to look like much more than a random second round flyer.
00:51Nichol announced himself against the Brooklyn Nets coming off the bench in his Summer League
00:55debut.
00:55He scored 18 points and buried six of his 10 attempts from three.
00:59The Knicks lost by 26, but every time Nichol found daylight, his release was quick, balanced
01:04and confident.
01:06Then came San Antonio in the Knicks' second test in Vegas.
01:09The entire New York offense struggled, managing only 49 points, but Nichol remained productive.
01:14He led New York with 16 points, connected on four more threes and even added two blocked
01:19shots.
01:19And against Detroit, Nichol finally cooled down overall, going three of 13 from the field,
01:25but he still knocked down three more triples as the Knicks earned their first Summer League
01:30victory.
01:30Now, that may be the most encouraging part.
01:33The first game could have been dismissed as one hot night, but after three games, the shooting
01:38is beginning to look repeatable.
01:39And this is not coming out of nowhere.
01:41During his final season at Vanderbilt, Nichol made 110 three-pointers while shooting 40% from
01:47deep.
01:47That was the third highest single season total in Vanderbilt history.
01:51The volume matters just as much as the percentage.
01:54Nichol is comfortable sprinting into shots, relocating when the defense loses sight of him,
01:59and getting the ball out before closeout can arrive.
02:02He does not need several dribbles to establish a rhythm.
02:05He does not need an offense built around him.
02:08He just needs a fraction of space.
02:11That is why Nichol, when asked about NBA comps by our own Stephan Bondi, has referenced players
02:16such as Duncan Robinson, Max Struess, and Sam Hauser when discussing the type of role that
02:21he believes he can fill in the NBA.
02:23Those players did not reach the league because teams expected them to become primary scorers.
02:27They made themselves valuable by bending defenses without dominating the basketball.
02:33And that is where the potential fit with the Knicks becomes interesting.
02:37Nichol is not auditioning to become Jalen Brunson.
02:40He's auditioning to make Jalen Brunson's job much easier.
02:43Place a credible shooter around Brunson, Caronty Towns, and the Knicks' other creators, and
02:48defenders face a decision.
02:50Help toward the ball and risk giving Nichol an open three or remain attached to him and
02:55create more space for New York stars.
02:57That type of gravity can help an offense even when the shooter never touches the ball.
03:02But making shots is only half of Nichol's audition.
03:06The real question as he embarks in his pro journey is whether he can remain on the floor defensively.
03:11NBA teams will test his lateral movement, put him in screening actions, and determine whether
03:16he can defend without requiring constant protection.
03:19Summer League coach TJ Saint has praised Nichol's preparation and defensive effort, and Nichol
03:24recorded two blocks against San Antonio.
03:26Now those are encouraging signs, but three Summer League games cannot establish that he is ready
03:31to defend NBA rotation players.
03:33Because when the games matter, opponents will find the weakest defender and attack him repeatedly.
03:38If Nichol cannot survive those possessions, his shooting alone may not be enough to earn
03:43consistent minutes.
03:44So, does Tyler Nichol have a legitimate chance to make the Knicks?
03:48Yeah.
03:49But making the Knicks may require some definition.
03:52As of July 14th, Nichol had not been reported as signing a standard rookie contract.
03:57The Knicks also had 13 players on standard deals and were expected to use their next roster
04:02spot on another center.
04:03That makes an immediate standard contract more difficult to project.
04:07A two-way contract appears to be the more realistic path that would allow Nichol to develop
04:12with the Westchester Knicks, adjust to NBA defensive responsibilities, and remain available when
04:17New York needs additional shooting.
04:19It would also give the Knicks time to determine whether Nichol is simply an excellent shooter,
04:23or an excellent shooter who can rebound his position, process the game quickly, and defend
04:29well enough to become a dependable NBA role player.
04:31Yeah.
04:32Summer League performances should always come with context.
04:35The competition?
04:36It's uneven.
04:37The offenses are disorganized, and plenty of July standouts never become NBA contributors.
04:42But Summer League can reveal whether a player possesses one skill that belongs at the next
04:47level.
04:48For Tyler Nichol, that answer is becoming increasingly clear.
04:52The shot?
04:52It's real.
04:54Now, he has to demonstrate that the rest of his game can keep that shot on the court.
04:59Nichol has not secured a Knicks rotation spot after three games in Las Vegas, but he has
05:04already made himself one of the most compelling developmental players in the organization.
05:09And he's made the Knicks' eventual contract decision much more interesting.
05:14So, while it's only three Summer League games, there is going to be a clear question when
05:19basketball in Vegas wraps up, and the offseason continues.
05:22The question is going to be, should Tyler Nichol receive a two-way contract?
05:26Or, has his shooting already earned him a spot on the standard roster?
05:31Knicks fans, let us know what you think in the comments.
05:34We'll catch you next time on NewYork.com.
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