With the 56th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Knicks selected the Kansas forward Kevin McCullar Jr. on Thursday.
New York acquired the pick from the Phoenix Suns, who acquired the pick in a trade with the Denver Nuggets.
McCullar Jr. played in 26 games for the Jayhawks during the 2023-24 season and averaged career-highs in points (18.3) and assists (4.1) while also grabbing 6.0 rebounds per game. He shot 45 percent from the field.
The 23-year-old started his career at Texas Tech, where he played three seasons and averaged 8.7 points in 78 games. He then transferred to Kansas for his final two seasons.
As a Jayhawk, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound player found his groove, averaging 14 points in 32.2 minutes per game, starting in 59 of the 60 games he played.
Two picks later, the Knicks chose Ariel Hukporti from Germany at selection No. 58 — the last pick of the 2024 NBA Draft.
New York received that pick after trading the No. 51 selection, which they received from the Washington Wizards in a first-round trade, to the Dallas Mavericks.
Hukporti, 22, is a 6-foot-1, 225-pound center who played in Australia’s NBL.
In 28 games during the 2023-24 season, Hukporti averaged 8.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
