Knicks G League Coach Praises Rookie Class

Hukporti, who is currently out due to a meniscus injury, and Kolek have earned fleeting stints with the Knicks' primary rotation. Even with injuries offering them those chances, it's perhaps impressive to see them on the floor so often considering head coach Tom Thibodeau's reluctance to use rookies.

McCullar, on the other hand, was a late entrant into Westchester's activities thanks to a knee ailment lingering from his college days, but impressed in his little time, which included, as Diop mentioned, consecutive triple-doubles during a doubleheader against Atlanta affiliate College Park.

Diop had special praise for Dadiet, the Knicks' most recent first-round pick at 25th overall in June. Dadiet's entrance at 19 years old may have raised eyebrows but Diop praised the way the teenage French phenom handled himself in his first professional foray.

"I've been a Pacome fan since he came to the draft workout," Diop said, praising his work in penetration. "I think him playing with us this season was very good for him. I think he got better ... His shot got a lot better, he worked on that a lot. I mean, this guy's a leader for a kid, man. He's got a lot of talent."

In the face of the supposed adversity — full-time Manhattan endeavors, of course, remain the ultimate goal — Diop was particularly proud of the way the Knicks' freshman quartet handled themselves in year one of the job.

"It was great, because the number one thing is, like, they all wanted to be here with us," Diop said. "I started in the G league with the [Texas] Legends, and some guys didn't want to come down. They wanted to be here. They asked to be here. That's the start, right there."