So, so close.
The Knicks came back from down 15 points to make it a two-point game in their Las Vegas Summer League opener against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, and with seven seconds left in the fourth quarter, they had a chance to send the game into overtime or hit a three for the win.
Knicks Summer League head coach Dice Yoshimoto drew up an excellent inbounds play from under the Knicks’ own basket, with two players curling towards the rim as decoys before high-flier Jacob Toppin created separation from Hornets star Brandon Miller right under the basket.
Damian Baugh lobbed a pass, Toppin caught it in mid-air, then left the layup short, as the Hornets recovered the ball, then marched to the foul line to put the Knicks away in a 94-90 loss at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday.
Here are some takeaways from the Knicks’ Summer League opener:
Tyler Kolek is immediately an NBA-level backup point guard
The Knicks selected Kolek with the 34th overall pick in the June NBA Draft, and it’s clear the Marquette product fills a team need in the backcourt.
Kolek is a prototypical floor general who showed great ball control and poise while running the offense as starting Knicks point guard for the Summer League opener against the Hornets.
He nearly triple-doubled with nine points, seven rebounds and a team-high seven assists, and knocked down a key corner three at the 6:43 mark of the fourth quarter to bring the Knicks back within four.
Kolek excelled operating out of the pick-and-roll and often beat his man to the paint before an open shooter or cutter.
It is easy to see how he slots into the rotation as a backup point guard behind Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride. In fact, Kolek can assume more of the backup ball-handling responsibilities and allow McBride to operate as a floor-spacer and point of attack defender for the second unit.
Kolek also forced his way to the line and made both free throws to make it a two-point game with under 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
He may quickly make a case for minutes with the Knicks come training camp in September.
Ariel Hukporti has the tools to become a serviceable big man
The Knicks took the German-Togolese big man with the 58th and final pick of the June draft, and Hukporti looks like a player who can be developed into a serviceable big man in the coming years.
The 7-foot center showed great touch around the rim and the ability to make quick playmaking decisions when the defense collapsed on him in the paint.
He finished with six points, five rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes and 36 seconds, splitting time at the five with Dmytro Skapintsev, the Westchester Knicks big man who finished with nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block, but blew an uncontested bunny layup with 3:41 left in the fourth quarter. A made bucket would have brought the Knicks within four, but instead, the Hornets capitalized to make it an eight-point game.
The Knicks subbed Skapintsev out after the miss and opted to play small ball to finish the game.
Pacome Dadiet may need some time
The Knicks selected the 18-year-old Frenchman Dadiet with the 25th overall pick in the June NBA Draft. He struggled from the field in Saturday’s loss to the Hornets, shooting two-of-eight from the field and missing all three of his attempts from downtown to finish with five points, five rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes on the floor.
Dadiet is a 6-foot-8 jump shooter who said Kevin Durant was his biggest basketball inspiration. The Knicks are hopeful they can develop him into the likes of the current Phoenix Suns star scorer.
Duane Washington Jr. should be on an NBA roster
Washington Jr. finished with a game-high 26 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field. He shot four-of-eight from downtown and made six of his eight attempts at the foul line.
Julius Randle praised Washington’s leadership after Knicks training camp in Charleston, S.C. last season. The Knicks cut Washington, but maybe he will stick on another team’s roster this upcoming season.
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