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After the final buzzer sounded declaring the New York Knicks the 2026 NBA champions on June 13, Marquette men's basketball legend Travis Diener texted Knicks rookie Tyler Kolek: “Congrats. Proud of you.”
New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, delivering the Knicks their first championship in 53 years. Kolek joins the list of Marquette basketball alums who have won an NBA championship including Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade.
“Hopefully there’s more moments like this, but there’s no guarantee,” Diener said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “Savor the moment. Enjoy it. Cherish it. But he’s still a young guy, I’m sure a lot more improvement to do but I’m incredibly proud of him.”
Diener and Wade were key players on Marquette's 2003 Final Four team.
Wade was in Wisconsin for a fundraiser with Diener, and said it was a joy to see Kolek help the Knicks win the championship, but he wasn’t surprised.
“Winning is an important word that comes behind your name – you're a winner,” Wade said. “Before he won the championship with the Knicks, Tyler’s always been a winner. He plays winning basketball.”
Wade is right. When Kolek was with Marquette from 2021-24, he was Big East Player of the Year (2022-23), second team all-American (2023-24), Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2023), first team all-Big East (2023-24), and second team all-Big East (2022-23).
“He’s a guy that had an outstanding Marquette career and had a lot of success,” Diener said, adding he believes Kolek will continue to do good things in the NBA. “He had a lot of big moments for the Knicks this year. He should take a lot of pride in that. It’s really, really hard to do.”
Wade hopes Kolek can join him, Diener and other notable Marquette basketball alum to cheer on future teams in the way that University of Connecticut or Duke University players do.
“I’m a little jealous, I’m a little envious when I see UConn all together in the stands, when I see Duke all together and I can’t wait until the day when we get together and we have a chance to see Marquette, hopefully, competing for a Final Four or national championship,” Wade said.
Wade and Diener gathered to promote the inaugural "Wade and Diener Home Court Weekend." Tickets are available for three events that are scheduled to take place July 16-17 with ticket sales and sponsorships going to the Tragil Wade-Johnson Summer Reading Program at Marquette, the Visit Milwaukee Foundation and Marquette basketball facilities.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Dwyane Wade, Travis Diener on Kolek: 'Tyler's always been a winner'
Continue reading...
New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, delivering the Knicks their first championship in 53 years. Kolek joins the list of Marquette basketball alums who have won an NBA championship including Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade.
“Hopefully there’s more moments like this, but there’s no guarantee,” Diener said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “Savor the moment. Enjoy it. Cherish it. But he’s still a young guy, I’m sure a lot more improvement to do but I’m incredibly proud of him.”
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Diener and Wade were key players on Marquette's 2003 Final Four team.
Wade was in Wisconsin for a fundraiser with Diener, and said it was a joy to see Kolek help the Knicks win the championship, but he wasn’t surprised.
“Winning is an important word that comes behind your name – you're a winner,” Wade said. “Before he won the championship with the Knicks, Tyler’s always been a winner. He plays winning basketball.”
Wade is right. When Kolek was with Marquette from 2021-24, he was Big East Player of the Year (2022-23), second team all-American (2023-24), Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2023), first team all-Big East (2023-24), and second team all-Big East (2022-23).
“He’s a guy that had an outstanding Marquette career and had a lot of success,” Diener said, adding he believes Kolek will continue to do good things in the NBA. “He had a lot of big moments for the Knicks this year. He should take a lot of pride in that. It’s really, really hard to do.”
Wade hopes Kolek can join him, Diener and other notable Marquette basketball alum to cheer on future teams in the way that University of Connecticut or Duke University players do.
“I’m a little jealous, I’m a little envious when I see UConn all together in the stands, when I see Duke all together and I can’t wait until the day when we get together and we have a chance to see Marquette, hopefully, competing for a Final Four or national championship,” Wade said.
You must be registered for see images attach
Wade and Diener gathered to promote the inaugural "Wade and Diener Home Court Weekend." Tickets are available for three events that are scheduled to take place July 16-17 with ticket sales and sponsorships going to the Tragil Wade-Johnson Summer Reading Program at Marquette, the Visit Milwaukee Foundation and Marquette basketball facilities.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Dwyane Wade, Travis Diener on Kolek: 'Tyler's always been a winner'
Continue reading...
