Jack Kayil, the No. 39 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, is returning to play with his team in Germany.
Alba Berlin, in a social media post on Friday, said the club had signed the 20-year-old point guard to a five-year contract through the 2030-31 season. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The Houston Rockets selected Kayil with the No. 39 overall pick in the draft in April, then traded his rights to the New York Knicks.
He played with the Knicks’ entry in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, but he apparently left feeling his immediate future consisted of G League arenas instead of Madison Square Garden and chose a return to Germany.
“Last season was super successful and a lot of fun for me, which is why I’m even more excited to stay in Berlin,” Kayil said in a statement translated from German. “I can’t wait to get back and pick up right where we left off. The NBA remains my ultimate dream — and ALBA is the perfect place for me to continue pursuing that path. The club has already helped me take crucial steps in this direction. I’m simply happy and grateful to be back in this incredible environment.”
The Knicks will continue to hold Kayil’s draft rights.
In four Summer League games, he averaged 8.8 points, 3.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds. He shot 34.2% from the field and 22.7% from 3-point territory.
The 6-foot-5 Kayil and his Alba Berlin team won the Bundesliga championship last season.
