After spending his high-school basketball career as one of the most promising players, Dink Pate is finally in the NBA. He has been a professional for two years, starting at 17. He played for the now-defunct G-League Ignite during the 2023-24 season and the Mexico City Capitanes in the 2024-25 campaign.

Pate is not the first player to come from the Ignite team. Names like Jalen Green, Scoot Henderson, and Jonathan Kuminga all stood out for the G-League Ignite. The team is defunct now, but it was impactful during its spell.

Now, Pate is the latest byproduct of the Ignite program, and he wants to make a difference.

He already has a good reputation for being the USA’s youngest-ever professional basketball player. Pate is only on an Exhibit 10 deal with the New York Knicks, but the Summer League is his chance, like what Tyler Kolek did in 2024.

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At 6’8″, Pate plays a unique point forward role. He was not a hot prospect due to his G-League history, but he has natural talent and good physical attributes. However, he could play well enough in the Summer League to secure a two-way contract and be a steal.

Pate has a lanky build, but he is athletic and strong. He is a fearless player who loves slashing into the paint. At the same time, he is also a composed guard who can make plays look smooth. As a player with two years of professional experience, he has developed well.

The Knicks can use a guard like him, as Kolek and Cameron Payne are not long-term backups for Jalen Brunson. New York already has a valuable superstar, but having a promising guard like Pate could pan out.

That will take some time, as Pate must overcome the obstacles. He must earn his way to a regular Knicks roster spot, which will take time. It will be challenging, but Dink Pate is always ready to be a difference-maker. If he can pan out, he becomes a steal as an undrafted player.

Despite his potential, Pate is an unlikely long-term player in New York. However, he has all the talent in the world to impress the front office and offer him a bigger contract. The Exhibit 10 deal is an opportunity for Pate to prove himself as a steal.

Brunson is the clear star, but they also have fan favorite Miles McBride and Delon Wright alongside Payne and Kolek. However, Pate will bring a unique versatility to the Knicks’ roster if he ends up signing a big deal. In the meantime, the Knicks are ready to keep fighting for their shot at the NBA Finals.

They already made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025, pushing the Indiana Pacers to a Game 6. While Pate is not the game-changing player the Knicks would love, he provides them with potential in the Summer League. If he performs well, he could get a shot at being a full-time player with a new coach.