The New York Knicks just won their first championship in over 50 years. The confetti barely settled. And now Summer League is here, which means a few guys who actually got minutes in the title run are kicking back in Vegas watching the next wave try to earn a spot. Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride showed up to see the Knicks take on the Brooklyn Nets in Summer League action. They brought Tyler Kolek along too.
Bridges and McBride were key rotation pieces throughout the playoffs. Kolek, a second-year guard, mostly watched from the bench when the games mattered most. But all three were courtside for Saturday’s matchup, checking out the young guys fighting for roster spots.
Who Actually Has a Shot at Making the Team
Mohamed Diawara is already locked in. He signed a four-year deal in free agency, so his future is about as secure as it gets for a Summer League guy. But the other two prospects the Knicks sent out there? Less certain. Pacome Dadiet is heading into his third NBA season after getting picked 25th overall in the 2024 draft. He hasn’t really shown much yet. Dillon Jones is on a two-way contract, which is basically a tryout deal with extra steps.
The Knicks had two second-round picks in the 2026 draft — No. 39 and No. 47 — and used them on Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel. Both are on the Summer League roster and getting their first real look against NBA-level competition.
The Guy Who Might Actually Be Worth Watching
One name that stands out on this Summer League roster is Liam Robbins. He spent part of last season with the Milwaukee Bucks on a two-way deal, appearing in 13 games before the Bucks cut him loose to sign Pete Nance. Robbins is a 7-footer with some skill, and teams always need size. He’s got a real shot to catch someone’s attention here.
The Knicks aren’t really playing for anything in these games. They’re already champions. But for guys like Dadiet, Jones, Kayil, Nickel, and Robbins, every possession matters. That’s the strange dynamic of Summer League for a team that just won it all — the veterans can kick back and watch, while the young guys try to prove they belong.
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