Jack Kayil, the New York Knicks' 20-year-old draft pick from Germany, has made his intentions clear: he wants to play in the NBA next season and not be stashed overseas.
"My goal is to play in the NBA," Kayil said Saturday after his summer league debut. "That’s why I went into the draft."
Kayil was selected 39th overall in the recent NBA draft. He joined the Knicks amid reports of a contract dispute with his former team in Berlin. Kayil declined to elaborate on the specifics of the contract issues, stating only that "there were things going on that I don’t want to get into." However, his desire to remain with the Knicks organization is evident.
"It’s not my decision, so I’m just trying to show myself in the best way, and it is what it is," he commented, later adding, "I’m super happy I also got drafted, and we’ll see what happens in the next days, weeks, whatever."
If Kayil joins the NBA for the upcoming season, he is considered a candidate for a two-way contract and potential development in the G-League.
During his summer league debut, a 70-49 loss to the Spurs, Kayil showcased playmaking potential despite the Knicks' overall offensive struggles. He scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out three assists while shooting 5-for-14 from the field in 21 minutes. He and fellow rookie Tyler Nickel were the primary offensive threats for the Knicks in the game.
Kayil described his adaptation to the NBA's style of play, noting similarities to basketball in Germany while acknowledging differences in player skill and pace. "It’s obviously different players to play against and a different kind of speed and everything. But I’m used to different systems, so it wasn’t difficult to adapt to that," he said.
TJ Saint, the Knicks' summer league coach, expressed approval of Kayil's performance and potential. "Really liked him. Started watching him on film after the draft," Saint said. "Thought he could get in the paint. Thought he had a quick burst."