LAS VEGAS — It’s Kevin McCullar Jr.’s first summer time league and, in some ways, his first NBA season remains to be upcoming.
Sure, he was drafted in 2024. And sure, he performed 4 video games with the Knicks this previous season.
However McCullar’s rookie marketing campaign was derailed by a knee downside.
He didn’t take part in coaching camp or the Vegas video games or many of the calendar occasions.
“This is really my real rookie season,” McCullar stated Sunday after pouring in 30 factors in a 94-81 summer time league loss to the Celtics. “Last year I just got to be able to get my feet wet a little bit. … I love playing and I missed it for so long. Now it’s pretty much my rookie season.”
With that in thoughts, McCullar was spectacular Sunday with loads of room to develop, main the offense in an in any other case disappointing Knicks efficiency.
Sporting a masks to guard his face after catching a blow in Friday’s loss, the No. 56 total choose logged an aggressive 28 minutes whereas capturing 10-for-15.
The bar wasn’t excessive, however he represented New York’s high performer, by far, although his aggressiveness additionally translated to too many fouls (eight, the foul restrict is 10 in summer time league) and turnovers (six).
“Kevin was solid,” Knicks summer time league coach Jordan Brink stated. “Got to take care of the ball a little bit better and that’s part of the learning curve for him as a primary ball handler. You see he had a mask on. He got hit in the head and then he got hit in the head again. That’s kind of how he plays. He’s a gritty player. He’s always in the mix with the physical contact. He fought through and I thought he had a pretty good game.”
McCullar is an enormous unknown for the Knicks, projected as a first-rounder earlier than falling within the 2024 draft due to that knee.
The prognosis of McCullar’s damage was by no means made public, but it surely was apparently aggravated throughout his last school season at Kansas and sidelined him for many of his Knicks rookie season.
When McCullar returned in March, it was too late to count on rotational contributions.
He signed a two-way deal and returned wholesome for this summer time league, the place he’s vying for a roster spot that must be accessible.
The Knicks, in any case, have at the least two slots open and as many as three two-way offers to fill.
“It was a grind to get back healthy,” McCullar stated, “and I’m feeling good right now.”
Time isn’t operating out on McCullar, however it’s at extra of a premium than for different Knicks rookies and sophomores. McCullar is already 24 years previous after sticking till his senior yr with the Jayhawks, when he was on a path towards All-American standing earlier than the knee damage.
He averaged 18.3 factors in 26 video games that last school marketing campaign. He’s athletic with first rate measurement (6-foot-6) and protection for a wing. His 3-point shot is spotty at greatest, nonetheless, and it didn’t enhance final season within the G-League. He hit simply 22.2 % of his treys in 13 video games with Westchester.
On Sunday, he was assured and environment friendly — although not from past the arc at simply 1-for-5. McCullar additionally displayed his ballhandling by citing the ball — typically even when sharing the ground with level guard Tyler Kolek, who struggled mightily for a second straight recreation (1-for-13 capturing with 4 turnovers in 29 minutes).
“We’re trying to mix up the looks, trying to get Tyler off the ball a little bit to alleviate some of the ball pressure he’s seeing full court,” Brink stated. “Still not doing a great job of getting to our space. That’s something we’ve got to continue to clean up. But part of the summer league experience for Kevin was to try to get him some ballhandling reps and see how he can do in that role.”
In Recreation 1 on Friday in opposition to the Pistons, McCullar wasn’t practically pretty much as good with 13 factors on 5-for-14 capturing and 1-for-5 from past the arc.
Then in opposition to the Celtics on Sunday, he was the very best purpose — perhaps the one purpose — to be ok with a summer time league defeat.
Accidents hit the Knicks on Sunday.
Pacôme Dadiet, the Knicks’ first-round choose in 2024, was pulled within the second half due to left foot soreness. He struggled earlier than getting sidelined, ending with seven factors on 3-for-11 capturing in 19 minutes.
James Nnaji, the No. 31 total choose in 2023 who was acquired by the Knicks within the Karl-Anthony Cities commerce, was eliminated earlier within the recreation with decrease again tightness, the group stated.
Nnaji completed with two factors in 9 minutes.
