Jack Kayil’s immediate future is now official. His NBA ambition remains very much alive.
ALBA Berlin announced Friday that the New York Knicks’ second-round pick signed a five-year contract through the 2030-31 season, confirming that the 20-year-old guard will remain in Germany rather than join the defending NBA champions this fall.
“Jack is staying,” the club declared in German in its Instagram announcement.
The length of the agreement represents a significant investment by ALBA, but Kayil made clear that returning to Berlin does not mean surrendering his NBA goal.
“The NBA is and remains a big dream of mine, and ALBA is the right place for me to continue on that path,” Kayil said. “The club has already helped me take decisive steps in that direction.”
Kayil called last season “super successful” and said he was grateful to return to an environment where he feels comfortable continuing his development.
Knicks Retain Jack Kayil’s NBA Rights
GettyJack Kayil of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Knicks acquired Kayil’s draft rights after the Houston Rockets selected him with the No. 39 pick in June. New York subsequently tendered him the required contract offer before the Aug. 5 deadline, allowing the organization to retain his NBA rights while he plays overseas.
That arrangement gives the Knicks time without requiring an immediate roster commitment.
New York has 13 players on standard contracts and all three two-way positions available. The club, however, remains focused on adding a third center behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond. Giving Kayil a standard contract would have further complicated the Knicks’ limited room below the second apron.
ALBA also had to resolve Kayil’s existing contractual rights with Serbian club Mega Basket, which loaned him to Berlin last season. The German club paid a buyout to complete the agreement, according to Welt.
ALBA did not disclose whether the contract includes an NBA exit clause. Sporting director Himar Ojeda nevertheless framed the deal as preparation for Kayil’s eventual move to the league.
Ojeda said the club hopes Kayil will follow Franz and Moritz Wagner as the third Berlin native to progress from ALBA’s youth program to the NBA.
NBA Summer League Showed Promise and Needed Growth
Kayil initially hoped to begin his NBA career immediately.
“My plan is to stay here,” he said after the draft. “And to get into the organization and keep growing with them.”
His four-game Summer League appearance demonstrated why the Knicks invested in him — and why additional development could help.
Kayil averaged 8.8 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 22.4 minutes. He shot 34% from the field and 23% from 3-point range, according to RealGM.
The uneven shooting was offset by flashes of promise. Kayil scored a team-high 19 points, made three 3-pointers and added four assists and three steals in an 86-75 victory over Detroit.
In Berlin, he should receive minutes and on-ball responsibilities that would have been difficult to find behind Jalen Brunson and the Knicks’ veteran backcourt.
Kayil averaged 12.3 points, 3.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds in German league play last season. He was named the Bundesliga’s top under-22 player and the Basketball Champions League’s Best Young Player.
The five-year agreement gives ALBA long-term security. It gives Kayil a familiar place to grow. And it gives the Knicks the luxury of waiting.
Kayil’s move to New York has been postponed, not abandoned.
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