New York Knicks: The team has a leader and it’s not Kristaps Porzingis
By Eric Snyder
Following the New York Knicks’ Media Day, a few players appeared ready to be leaders and none of them were named Kristaps Porzingis.
The New York Knicks have plenty of needs coming into training camp both on the court and in the locker room. Of those many needs, enthusiasm may be the most important. Following a season of pure disappointment, the Knicks need something or someone exciting to lead them.
Obviously, integrating the new players into a new system surrounding a new star player is priority No. 1. At the same time, basketball strategy can only take a team so far. Positivity, enthusiasm and excitement will always bring out the best in any person or team.
Media Day doesn’t tell the complete story about leadership, but it does give insight into who the leaders can be. Yet now that Carmelo Anthony is gone from New York, there may very well be a leadership vacuum inside the Knicks locker room. The assumed leader of this team, Kristaps Porzingis, left much to be questioned after his Media Day interview.
In comparison, many of the other players appeared much more excited about being in New York than KP. Excitement and enthusiasm isn’t everything in leadership, but without those two things, leadership is dead. Two players in particular stood out and seemed ready to take over as leader of the New York Knicks.
Frank Ntilikina
From the moment Frank Ntilikina began speaking at Media Day, he exuded excitement. This team had little to be excited about last year, but the young Frenchman may be the leader the Knicks need. Fans deserve a team and players who are excited about the future and Ntilikina is that breath of fresh air.
Comparitively, when Kristaps Porzingis spoke he often looked bored and lacked the excitement a leader needs. Being a dynamic speaker may not prove a person’s leadership ability, but in New York it is very important.
Porzingis will be an All-Star this year and may even take the entire league by storm. However, Frank Ntilikina may still be more of a leader simply because of his charisma and enthusiasm.
There is no doubt that on the basketball court, Porzingis will be the driving force behind whatever success the Knicks have. However, his young teammate Frank Ntilikina will be the heart and soul leader of this team.
KP may not have the personality or mindset to be that enthusiastic, vocal leader, and there is nothing wrong with that. As long as his relationship with Jeff Hornacek heals and his effort level is high, Porzingis will dominate nightly. However, it will be Ntilikina who inspires and leads the New York Knicks.
Enes Kanter
At times during Media Day, it sounded like Enes Kanter and Kristaps Porzingis were on different teams. Porzingis often sounded unsure about the team’s future and ability to win games. Kanter, on the other hand, spoke in positive terms about his new team and his confidence about the upcoming season.
Stefan Bondy of the NY Daily News provided a telling quote about the enthusiasm of Kanter:
"While Porzingis is ready for a fresh start as he returns for the upcoming season, Kanter, a big fan of New York City, was so shocked he was traded to the Knicks that he decided pinching himself wasn’t enough…”I woke up in the middle of the night and punched myself. I said, ‘Is this a dream? Is this really happening?’”"
Clearly, Kanter and KP came into Media Day from two opposite contexts. Porzingis endured a season of drama, losing and often felt unappreciated. However, Kanter contributed to a playoff team and watched Russell Westbrook make history last year. In other words, no one can blame Porzingis for being hesitant to trust these New York Knicks.
The good news for the Knicks is that Porzingis, Ntilikina and Kanter are all still young players. Surely, each of them will grow as leaders throughout this training camp and this season.
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Furthermore, just because Porzingis isn’t mentally ready to be a leader right now doesn’t mean he can’t be eventually. But in this moment and in front of the world on Media Day, it was clear he had no concept of being a team leader. Fortunately, the enthusiasm and optimism shown by Kanter and Ntilikina can still be what this team needs for the time being.