New York Knicks second-round pick Jack Kayil will remain with Alba Berlin for the 2026-27 season after signing a contract that runs through the end of the 2030-31 campaign. The decision keeps the 20-year-old German guard overseas while the Knicks retain his NBA draft rights.
Ian Begley reported Friday that Kayil is staying overseas next season, adding that Tyler Nickel, New York’s other second-round selection, is instead committed to beginning his professional career. The Knicks selected Kayil No. 39 overall after acquiring the pick from the Houston Rockets and took Nickel No. 47 after acquiring that selection from Phoenix.
Kayil enters his second season with Alba after a breakthrough 2025-26 campaign. He averaged 12.4 points, 3.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds in slightly more than 21 minutes per game in the German Bundesliga while helping Alba win the championship.
His production also earned him the Bundesliga U22 Player of the Year award and the Basketball Champions League Best Young Player award. In the Champions League, Kayil averaged 11.9 points, 4.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds in just over 20 minutes per game.
The Knicks got a closer look at Kayil during the 2026 NBA Summer League, where he played four games and averaged 8.8 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 22.4 minutes. He shot 34.2% from the field and 22.7% from three-point range over that four-game sample.
Kayil’s Summer League shooting was considerably below his production in Germany, but his passing and defensive activity remained evident. His 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game gave New York additional evidence of his ability to contribute as a secondary playmaker and perimeter defender.
The decision also fits the Knicks’ broader offseason strategy. New York is operating close to the NBA’s second-apron restrictions after finishing 53-29 in the regular season and winning its first championship since 1973 with a 4-1 Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Rather than adding another rookie contract to the immediate roster, the Knicks can allow Kayil to continue developing in a professional environment while maintaining control of his NBA rights. New York used its 2026 draft to prioritize second-round flexibility, selecting only Kayil and Nickel while moving other selections for future assets.
Kayil said his NBA ambition has not changed. “The NBA is and remains my big dream,” he said, while describing Alba as the right place to continue working toward that goal.
