(WJAR) — The New York Knicks are just one win away from capturing their first NBA title since 1973.
And one of the players helping lead that championship run happens to be from right here in Rhode Island.
From Cumberland to St. George’s School, then a stop at George Mason before transferring to Marquette, Tyler Kolek’s basketball journey has taken him from the Ocean State to the biggest stage in the sport.
Now, the Knicks point guard is one victory away from becoming an NBA champion.
“You can name the people that made the NBA on your two hands from Rhode Island, and then just to be able to have a championship is amazing,” said Kevin Kolek, Tyler’s father.
Kolek’s path to the NBA has been filled with accolades.
He was a multiple-time Player of the Year in high school, earned Rookie of the Year honors during his freshman season at George Mason, and later became one of the top players in college basketball at Marquette.
But according to his father, an NBA career wasn’t always part of the plan.
“I think the first time he really thought about it might have been his last year of college when they were in the Big East and he was Player of the Year and they were winning championships,” Kevin Kolek said. “Maybe he kind of thought about it then, but that’s probably the only time.”
If the Knicks are able to finish the job and win the NBA Finals, Kolek would join a very short list of Rhode Islanders to win an NBA championship as a player or coach.
The most recent player from Rhode Island to accomplish the feat was Joe Hassett.
“Just being in the company of his name — and I used to play with Joe a little bit — he’s a tremendous player; he’s a great, great person, and just being mentioned with his name is unbelievable,” Kevin Kolek said.
For a proud father watching his son move one step closer to basketball’s ultimate prize, the emotions are hard to put into words.
“I just wish him good luck. There’s nothing at this point that I could really tell him that he doesn’t know,” Kevin Kolek said. “But it would just be amazing to even think of where he started. He started playing on this court when he was a little kid, and to have a chance to be a part of a championship team, it’d be amazing. I’d just be so happy for him.”
The Knicks will have their opportunity to clinch the NBA title in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 13.
