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Knicks’ Mike Brown shares clear message about Jose Alvarado, Tyler Kolek playing time
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- Knicks’ Mike Brown shares clear message about Jose Alvarado, Tyler Kolek playing time
Knicks' Mike Brown shares clear message about Jose Alvarado, Tyler Kolek playing time appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The New York Knicks have had to do some soul-searching early on in the 2026-27 campaign, as they entered play on Monday against the Brooklyn Nets with just two wins in their first six contests in the new season. This is not the start the reigning champions must have envisioned heading into this year, although it is still early in the season and there is plenty of time for them to round into championship form.
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Knicks head coach Mike Brown is also having to figure out how to best utilize his rotation; over the past four games, New York has had to deploy Tyler Kolek , who is typically the team's third-string point guard, as their floor general off the bench. But Alvarado recently returned from his absence to suit up against the Nets, and Brown met with both of his bench point guards to implore both of them to stay ready throughout the season.
"Both of you guys helped us win last year. I feel like both of you guys can play and contribute at a high level so both you guys gotta be ready," Brown said, per SNY Knicks on X.
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Alvarado has indeed provide a spark for the Knicks ever since the team landed him via trade with the New Orleans Pelicans back at the trade deadline. This move cemented Kolek as more of an emergency option for the team even though he had stretches earlier in the year where he looked like a legitimate rotation piece for New York.
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The former Pelicans guard did show in the 2026 NBA playoffs that he can contribute when the stakes at their highest, so that should win him some leeway with Brown. Nonetheless, with the Knicks still looking to recapture their identity from last season, no one should be surprised if Brown keeps on shuffling the deck to try and figure out which works best for this year's version of the team.
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