
The New York Knicks have struggled to find a consistent point guard over the last few seasons, as French national Frank Ntilikina has been unable to prove his worth on the court.
Several demotions from the starting rotation have forced Frank down the depth chart and will now start the season as the number three point guard. However, the Frenchman has seemingly revitalized himself at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. He played with more confidence attacking the rim and put his defensive qualities is on display once again. His field-goal percentage hovered around 45%, a much better number than he produced with the Knicks.
This off-season has been plagued with trade rumors involving Nitilikina, but he hasn’t let that phase him in his attempt to make a come back in the NBA and show he can be a valuable asset moving forward. Initially, Frank struggled with the pace of the NBA and his offense took a major hit due to the difference in quality from international play. However, he has been given plenty of time to develop and gain experience. The Knicks need him to finally reach his potential, as they cannot continue to utilize him in only defensive scenarios.
I am motivated, determined to succeed with the Knicks jersey. Being at this moment the one who wears the jersey since the longest time in the roster is a responsibility, and to deserve the respect of the Knicks fans, it will be only by the daily work with dedication every day in the training sessions to create the best systems to win games.
With Dennis Smith Jr. and Elfrid Payton the first two-point guard slots, it’s essential that Ntilikina elevates his game, especially in regards to his scoring efficiency. Improving upon his weaknesses will give him the playing time he needs to show he can be of value, but it all starts with putting points on the board and being aggressive.