5 players that should be part of New York Knicks long-term core
3. Frank Ntilikina
Three games into the season, Madison Square Garden erupted with “We want Frank” chants.
After that game, Dennis Smith Jr. took time off for a family death and the next game, Elfrid Payton suffered an injury. The third game following the chants, the New York Knicks decided to start Frank Ntilikina.
Since then, he’s been the starting point guard — even after Smith’s return.
The demand to start Ntilikina began over the summer when he showcased offensive confidence in the FIBA World Cup. He was a member of the French team that defeated the United States in the quarterfinals.
That confidence has spilled into this season. He looks more comfortable playmaking and shooting 3-pointers. Ntilikina, however, is still fairly inefficient from the field. He’s shooting 40 percent from the floor and 34.4 percent from distance. Though his offensive game is not potent, it’s improved enough to warrant significant playing time.
Ntilikina’s defense is where he stands out. The guard stands 6-foot-4 with a 7-foot wingspan, giving him the ability to defend at least three positions.
In the two games against the Dallas Mavericks, Ntilikina was able to defend both 6-foot-7 Luka Doncic and 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis. According to NBA.com, when Ntilikina was the primary defender on Doncic, Doncic shot 6-of-13 with four assists and seven turnovers. Against Porzingis, Ntilikina limited the big to two points on 0-for-6 shooting.
His ability to lock up opposing matchups is key for the Knicks and is the main reason why he’s started 10 of the 14 games he’s played. Additionally, he’s doubled his steals per game average from last year — 0.7 to 1.4 — and more than doubled his blocks per game average — 0.3 to 0.7.
Frank Ntilikina pokes the ball away from Luka Doncic, gets tied up for a loose ball (Knicks win the jump ball), and is very excited about it. pic.twitter.com/oHqxZTrPCQ
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) November 15, 2019
Barring an injury, Ntilikina should remain the starting point guard for the rest of the season. His defense is far too valuable for him to sit. His expanded offensive repertoire further enhances his case to be the starter.
Over the next few years, Ntilikina will need to continue growing his offensive game for the Knicks to keep him as the starter long term. Nevertheless, he should continue to see significant minutes in the rotation.