Knicks draft pick Tyler Nickel fulfills Long Island dad’s lifelong dream

So when the reigning NBA champions selected Tyler with the 47th overall pick, it was more than just another landing spot.

Knicks draft 6'6" sniper Tyler Nickel at #47

Jay Bilas: "Reminds you a little bit of Sam Merrill…solid defender…works his tail off defensively"

22-year-old wing shot 40% from three last three seasons at Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech pic.twitter.com/M6FE3PWO17

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 25, 2026

“Just the fact that he got drafted, it’s amazing and overwhelming,” Eric told Greater Long Island. “A childhood dream realized. The fact that it’s to my favorite team, and that they just won the championship, made it even more surreal.”

Tyler grew up in rural Virginia with his two brothers, Ryan and Kyle. He was never a major NBA fan and did not spend much time watching Knicks games with his father, but he idolized LeBron James and told Eric in the fifth grade that he wanted to become a professional basketball player.

“I learned never to doubt him,” Eric said. “As far-fetched as it may have seemed, I was never going to be the one to pop that dream. He’s an incredibly hard worker.”

Eric first began to believe major college basketball was possible when Tyler starred on a 15-and-under AAU team that won a national championship.

Tyler’s resume only grew from there.

Despite losing part of his junior high school career to the COVID-19 pandemic, he finished high school as Virginia’s all-time public school scoring leader, surpassing a list that included Allen Iverson, J.J. Redick and Moses Malone.

During his senior year at Vanderbilt, he averaged 13.5 points over 36 games while shooting a fiery 40% from beyond the arc, helping propel the Commodores to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Knicks were not always viewed as his most likely destination.

Tyler completed his first pre-draft workout with New York before the NBA Combine in May, then worked out for more than a dozen other teams.

“Plenty of teams showed just as much interest, or more interest, than the Knicks did leading up to the draft,” Eric said.

Then came the moment the family had been waiting for.

The Knicks called Tyler’s agent one pick before New York was on the clock and delivered the news: “Looks like you’re going to the Knicks.”

WHSV @jarvisharen: "If I'd have told you someone from Rockingham County's gonna be playing in New York City"

Knicks draft pick Tyler Nickel: "Doesn't even sound real" pic.twitter.com/cHUx71qwlB

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 25, 2026

Eric admitted he became emotional, but he did not want to take the moment away from his son.

“We talked about my love for the Knicks later, when we got home from the watch party in town,” Eric said. “He said, ‘I know how extra special MSG is to you.’”

So did all of Eric’s friends.

“When your son gets drafted, of course your phone is going to blow up,” he said. “The fact that he was going to my favorite team made everyone who knows me on social media reach out, too. My page went nuts.”

"I'm a Knicks fan"

–– Tyler Nickel's dad Eric Nickel, who grew up on Long Island and played college ball for SUNY Plattsburgh

Eric after his son became a Knick: pic.twitter.com/5VjXLk0Vet

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 25, 2026

The excitement even reached next door.

“My next-door neighbor happens to be from Huntington,” Eric said. “He knows about my love for the Knicks. When he heard Tyler’s name called, he shouted out his front door to me, and I heard it. It was great.”