With Elfrid Payton missing time with a sore hamstring, the New York Knicks and head coach David Fizdale will roll with third-year man, Frank Ntilikina. The Frenchman started in the loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday night, despite his team falling in disappointing fashion, 104-102.
Ntilikina finished the night with 10 points and two assists, but his defensive abilities were on par late in the game to slow down Kemba Walker. The Celtics point guard still logged 33 points and five assists on the night.
The New York Knicks still need him to develop his offense:
Frank’s weakness remains his offensive production and inability to put up points in tough situations. That reality hasn’t convinced Fizdale to keep him on the bench, though, as experimenting with RJ Barrett at point guard didn’t go as anticipated for Fiz.
Dealing with adversity has been a constant for Ntilikina during his young career. Being benched and overlooked last season to playing just 18 seconds against the Celtics last Saturday, he could finally be developing some upward trending momentum.
“Frank is really playing good basketball for us,†Fizdale said Saturday. “I’m just really proud of the way that he stayed with it and his confidence is growing every day.
“He’s doing exactly what I’m asking. He’s pushing the ball. He’s getting us into our stuff. He’s really defending, obviously. He’s being very vocal, which has been another step for him, using his voice. We’re going to just keep trying to grow him, keep him in a good place.â€
Fizdale did hit on a perspective that most don’t understand. The transition from France to playing in the United States, especially in New York. Being inserted into one of the most hostile sports environment takes time to learn and adapt to.
“He’s still a baby, man. I think everything feels like forever here in New York,†Fizdale said. “Frank is a young kid from another country, had to go through that whole adjustment of figuring it out, his teammates, figuring out New York City, America, everything. It’s finally where he’s starting to get comfortable and being able to just play basketball without thinking about all of that other stuff.