The story of New York Knicks‘ point guard Frank Ntilikina is an ongoing one. From trade rumors to future of the franchise narratives being placed on his shoulders every off-season, 2020 holds a more optimistic tale.
With new general manager Leon Rose taking over executive duties, the future of the Knicks is in question.
How they look next season, will they be active in the trade market, will they land LaMelo Ball? These are all questions they will face in the coming months, but one thing will remain constant, Ntilikina will once again be relied on.
Marc Berman of the New York Post believes point guard Frank Ntilikina will be a ‘valuable piece’ on Leon Rose’s team.
Three consecutive seasons of disappointing play has forced the Knicks to reconsider the point guard position. They signed Elfrid Payton to supplement Frank’s deficiencies, and now they are heavily rumored to target Ball in the 2021 NBA draft. Given the Knicks manage to land a good lottery pick, the expectation is that they will land the sharpshooting point guard.
However, there’s a long way between now and then. Ntilikina actually left Rose as his agent several years ago, and now things have come full circle.
To mend the bad blood, New York Knicks’ GM Rose spoke only positive things about Frank, and the player reciprocated:
Rose said that Ntilikina can “really prosper†in the right situation, according to MSG.
“I know Leon — very professional in what he does. He’s a good guy. We can trust him, I think,†Ntilikina told reporters in March. “We all want what’s the best for the team. So we all are moving in the same direction. Leon is an expert in his job. He knows what he’s doing. He was a great agent and I’m sure he’s going to do great things here.â€
In 2019 with New York, Ntilikina posted a .393 field-goal percentage, hitting .444 from two-point and .321 from three-point. This was his best season offensively, averaging just 6.3 points per game.
The lack of efficiency offensively is a testament to his limitations. However, he is a stellar defender, averaging nearly 1.0 steals per game. Using him situationally is how the Knicks will likely proceed with the French player. While it doesn’t seem as his offense can develop to a point where he can remain a regular starter, his defense late in games has proven to be a commodity.