Hoops roundup: For some players, the NBA Cup could mean a substantial financial windfall. The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs will face off in the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas on Tuesday night, with a trophy, bragging rights, and a substantial prize pool on the line. The game won't impact the standings, but the players stand to gain significantly. The Knicks and Spurs have already secured $212,373 per player from the NBA Cup prize pool, with the winning team's players earning an additional $308,560, bringing their total to $530,933 each. Two-way players will receive half of what standard contract players earn. For some players, this could be a life-changing amount. Take Tyler Kolek, a backup guard for the Knicks, who is making $2.2 million this season. While this may seem like a lot, it pales in comparison to the salaries of other Knicks players like Karl-Anthony Towns ($53.1 million), OG Anunoby ($39.6 million), Jalen Brunson ($34.9 million), Mikal Bridges ($25 million), and Josh Hart ($19.5 million). These players are accustomed to earning over $500,000 per game. Kolek, however, has earned his shot to win big in Vegas by being a key contributor to the Knicks' success. In the semifinals, he played 16 minutes, helping New York outscored Orlando by 18 points. When he wasn't on the court, the Magic outscored the Knicks by six. His performance earned him praise from his teammates, including Karl-Anthony Towns, who called him one of the finest NBA players he's seen. Kolek's impact on the game goes beyond the stats. He's also a thoughtful player who uses his winnings to show appreciation to his loved ones. Last season, he bought his mother a car with his NBA Cup quarterfinal bonus of over $50,000. This year, he's hinted that his father might be next for a new vehicle. The question is, will the bigger bonus this year lead to a better car for his dad? Knicks coach Mike Brown is eager to find out, as he's been impressed with Kolek's competitive spirit and has given him a more prominent role in recent games. Brown humorously suggests that Kolek might need to take better care of his mom to avoid any favoritism. The MAC men's basketball tournament also saw action, with Iowa dominating Western Michigan 91-51. Bennett Stirtz, Alvaro Folgueiras, and Brendan Hausen all scored 13 points, and Stirtz added six assists. Iowa, now 9-2, is unbeaten in seven home games. Jalen Griffith and Carson Vis each scored 11 points for Western Michigan, which is 1-5 on the road. Jayden Brewer added 10 points, and Cam Manyawu and Tate Sage scored 11 each for Iowa, who bounced back from a loss to No. 4 Iowa State.
