Fans Do Not Like Knicks’ Roster Move on Saturday

Story by

Mohammad Asif Ansari

Sat, Feb 21, 2026 ·

3 min read

At Madison Square Garden, second-year guard Tyler Kolek was assigned to the Westchester Knicks on Saturday morning, ahead of New York ’s home contest against the Houston Rockets .

The move follows a roster logjam triggered by the trade-deadline acquisition of veteran Jose Alvarado . With Miles McBride recovering from core muscle surgery, the Knicks front office brought in Alvarado to provide veteran depth for a team holding the third spot in the Eastern Conference. Within days of the trade, Kolek’s rotation minutes vanished. He appeared in only two of the last four games — mostly during garbage time.

Fans criticized the move across social media. One supporter noted that Kolek is the best passer on the team, writing:

“He’s our best point guard passer, he sets all the other guys up nice early passes them open,” a fan wrote.

Another fan pointed to his recent contributions:

“Kolek saved Christmas and got sent to the G league smh,” one commented.

“Why? We literally have a game today,” one fan commented on X.

“Think he’s earned his spot on the Knicks and not be assigned to the G-League no?” another fan wrote .

“Deserves more minutes…” another fan commented .

“This is terrible. I feel like he deserves a permanent spot with the big team,” one wrote .

What If Tyler Kolek Returned to the Main Rotation?

Analyst Dan Favale observed that the Knicks have been 9.5 points per 100 possessions better without veteran Jordan Clarkson on the floor, suggesting Kolek’s playmaking might be prioritized over scoring in the future. Previously, Kolek and Clarkson combined for 29 points to lead New York to an NBA Cup championship against the Spurs.

Head coach Mike Brown spoke about the difficulty of balancing young talent with veteran experience:

“Jose (Alvarado) is a vet... He knows the league. The league knows him. He knows the officials and vice versa,” Brown said , per Knicks reporter Ian Begley.

While Brown acknowledged he has played young guys in front of veterans before, he emphasized the need for immediate evaluation.

“So ( Sochan and Alvarado are) going to get an opportunity. But at the end of the day, I’m going to play who I think is best for us," he said.

Despite the demotion, the 24-year-old guard remains disciplined. Before the trade, Kolek expressed his commitment to the team’s championship aspirations:

“We’re trying to be a championship-level team, so you bring in as much talent as you can,” Kolek told the New York Post . “I’m going to compete every single day. Everybody on this team is going to compete for minutes."

Kolek, who averages 4.9 points and 2.9 assists this season, is expected to start for the Westchester Knicks on Saturday afternoon against the Cleveland Charge. Last season, his production in the G League was elite. He averaged 18 points and 9.8 assists, highlighting the playmaking upside of a player the Knicks still view as a vital developmental piece in "win-now" mode.

New York and Houston meet at 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.