Atta Kusi, a former defender for Asante Kotoko, regrets playing football.

The New York Knicks might have turned things around this season after having their greatest season in what seems like forever. Rather, they made two significant moves to up the stakes, acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges.

Even while these two players will be crucial to the team's success this season, a youngster who was selected with little fanfare may also play a big role.

The Knicks were active in the 2024 draft, selecting several players and then frequently dealing for them. Although Pacome-Dadiet, a guard selected in the first round, appears to be a good addition, the team's performance this season may be greatly influenced by the player they select in Round 2.

Tyler Kolek was considered a sure first-round pick by many, and others even felt he may finish as high as 15th. During his stellar four years at Marquette, he led the country in assists and won Big East Player of the Year in 2023. He may turn out to be a steal, though, as the Knicks swiftly snatched him up in the second round for whatever reason.

Kolek frequently appeared to be the best guard, if not the best player, on the court during the Summer League. He averaged 9.6 points, seven assists, and just 1.4 turnovers in five games. Additionally, he did this against the Kings:

Now, rookies selected late in the draft usually do not play much in their first season, especially if they are on a strong team. Furthermore, it is well known that Tom Thibodeau, the head coach of the Knicks, rarely gives young players playing time.

Kolek, though, appears prepared to contribute, so that might alter this year.

Another factor contributing to Kolek's potential inclusion in the rotation is Thibodeau's reputation for playing his players hard.

According to Basketball Reference, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart had the 14th and 38th most minutes played in the league, respectively, during the previous season. Bridges, a newbie, came in at number 22 on that list. This implies that these guys will see a great deal of wear and tear over the course of a lengthy season.

Thibodeau may need to deploy some of the younger players if he hopes to avoid the fate of the club from the previous season when it appeared to be a triage unit during the postseason.

There are more expectations for the Knicks than there have been in decades. The team should not undervalue Kolek and the other young players on the roster, even though Brunson and Towns are the top players who will eventually determine success.