You don’t have to watch Tyler Kolek for long to realize that he is an excellent college basketball player. His feel, his passing ability and his shooting touch have led Marquette to a deep run in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
How does that translate to the NBA?
Kolek is being mocked towards the end of the first round by outlets such as The Athletic, ESPN and The ringer. Here’s why it projects in that range.
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Tyler Kolek statistics
| statistics | Average |
| Points | 15.3 |
| Assists | 7.9 |
| Rebounds | 4.8 |
| steal | 1.6 |
| Field goal % | 49.7 |
| % of 3 points | 39.7 |
| Free shot % | 85.4 |
Tyler Kolek height, weight
Kolek has mediocre measurements for an NBA shooting guard.
- Height: 6ft 3
- Weight: 195 pounds
- Wingspan: unknown
Tyler Kolek’s Strengths
Kolek is a brilliant passer, averaging 7.9 assists per game this season. The left handed set a school record with 18 assists earlier in the year in a blowout win against DePaul.
What makes Kolek an elite distributor is his creativity and the unique angles with which he throws the ball. He has every pass possible, throwing them with either hand to any spot on the ground.
Kolek controls the game, plays fast but not rushed. He pushes Marquette into its starting offense, where he is a master of manipulation on pick-and-rolls.
He’s a good finisher despite his play below the rim, and he uses his ability to throw off the pace of big men.
He’s also a proven 3-point shooter, hitting 39.7 percent from deep over his last two seasons.
It’s become a cliché to say that a player has that dog in him, but Kolek has a 100-pound Doberman where his heart should be. He is tough as nails and a tenacious defender who doesn’t back down from anyone.
He is not afraid of the moment, as he demonstrated in making a great clutch shot to send Marquette to the Sweet 16. He had one of the tournament dates after that game, showing the natural swagger he plays with.
“I told them [in the huddle] This is what has been in our nightmares. We just have to go after him and attack him. “We no longer run away from our nightmares.”
—@MarquetteMBBby Tyler Kolek pic.twitter.com/bwqQ2typWR
– CBS Sports College Basketball ? (@CBSSportsCBB) March 24, 2024
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Tyler Kolek Weaknesses
Life in the NBA can be difficult for a 6-foot-3 point guard without elite athleticism. There aren’t many of those players out there.
Kolek is not a super-explosive guard who outpaces defenders on his attacks. That will limit the degree of offense he can create for himself and others. He will need to use ball screens to generate the majority of his looks. He hasn’t shown much intermediate play either, generally shooting from 3 or at the rim. That could be an important shot for him against drop coverages in the NBA.
While he is a good three-point shooter, Kolek has a somewhat slow release and hasn’t let enough shots fly at the college level.
Kolek will likely be the defensive target. He doesn’t have terrible size, but he will usually be the smallest on the court. He is tough enough to fight in those matchups.
None of these weaknesses are enough to prevent him from becoming an NBA player. But if we add them up, it’s hard to see him ever be among the top 30 players in the league.
Tyler Kolek NBA Mock Draft Projection
Mock Draft Projection: Late first round
Kolek, 22, is an older prospect who doesn’t have the natural athleticism that usually accompanies big upside. He still has a good chance to hit as a reliable backup guard with starting potential if all goes well.
This isn’t a big draft, so getting a player a team can bring in right away for 15 minutes is a nice win at this range.
Tyler Kolek Comparison of NBA players
Play like: kirk hinrich
While Hinrich didn’t make a ton of threes, he was a good shooter. He always made the right pass and competed a lot on defense. He didn’t have an elite ability, but he didn’t take anything off the table either. He started for some competitive Bulls teams and found ways to make them win.
Kolek has those same overall court qualities that made Hinrich a beloved figure in Chicago and gave him a long NBA career. He will place his teammates in his favorite spots. He’s not going to score a lot of three-pointers, but he will score the ones the defense gives him. He will give his team everything they need from him on any given night.
Intangibles are impossible to measure, but Kolek and Hinrich have them in abundance.
