2 Knicks Breakout Candidates to Watch in 2026

There is something extra fun about watching a basketball season develop in real time. That's especially true with the New York Knicks. Before the standings settle in and the familiar stars dominate every conversation, younger players are waiting for their chance to change how they're viewed.

2 Knicks Breakout Candidates to Watch in 2026

That process can be one of the best parts of following the NBA. A player can begin the year as someone most people barely mention and finish it as someone fans are suddenly wondering how they ever overlooked. Those are the kinds of players who can eventually become the Jalen Brunsons of the league, growing from developing pieces into major contributors against the Knicks' competition .

The Knicks have two players who could be worth following closely for that reason: Tyler Kolek and Mohamed Diawara .

Kolek is heading into Year 2 at point guard, and there are already signs that the Knicks see something worth developing. One detail from the offseason stands out. Kolek didn't participate in Summer League, which has been viewed as an indication that the organization has greater confidence in his development. Instead of needing another extended audition, he appears to be moving toward the next stage of his progression.

That doesn't necessarily mean he'll suddenly become one of New York's most important players when the games start . There are veteran ball-handlers in front of him, and earning regular playing time in an NBA rotation is never quite as simple as it looks from the outside.

Still, the chance is there. Kolek now has a full rookie season behind him, giving him experience that he didn't have when he first arrived. The upcoming campaign will show whether that foundation can translate into a larger role when the season gets hot .

For a young guard, that can be the difference between simply being part of the roster and becoming someone a coaching staff trusts when the game gets moving. That's why Kolek is worth watching. If his development continues at the right pace, the Knicks could have another solid piece emerging behind their established players.

Diawara is another young Knick who could make himself much harder to overlook. The small forward already saw meaningful opportunities last season, particularly when injuries created additional room in the rotation. He also showed an ability to contribute during defensive stretches, giving him something to build on heading into the new campaign.

Several elements of his game make his potential great. Diawara can get the ball moving up the floor, create space from the perimeter, and take advantage when defenders close out. His offensive potential is also part of the reason he remains a candidate for regular work with the second unit.

Now comes the challenge of turning those flashes into something dependable. Young players don't always get a straight line from promising minutes to a permanent spot in the rotation. Opportunities appear, disappear, and sometimes come back around when a team needs someone to step in. Diawara has already experienced some of that, and another season gives him a chance to establish himself more firmly.

For Knicks fans, that's where the intrigue lies. Kolek and Diawara aren't being asked to carry the team. They're young pieces trying to push their way into larger roles, and that journey can be just as fun as watching an established star.

If one of them puts everything together, the talk around that player could look very different by the end of the season. That's often how these stories begin: slowly, with a few minutes here and a few chances there, before everyone realizes a player has become much more important than expected.