When Malcolm Brogdon abruptly hung up his sneakers before the season began, the collective groan from Madison Square Garden could be heard in New Jersey. That unexpected retirement stripped the New York Knicks of their primary bench stabilizer, forcing them to hand the keys to second-year guard Tyler Kolek before he was truly ready to drive.

As a rookie, the former Marquette standout looked overwhelmed by the speed of the NBA game, leading many to check the trade machine daily for a veteran replacement.

However, just as the panic meter was starting to redline in year two, Kolek has quietly begun to flip the narrative during the high-stakes pressure of the NBA Cup.

With veteran Jordan Clarkson struggling to find his rhythm, the Knicks needed a spark, and the youngster has delivered back-

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