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New York Knicks: There’s no rational reason to call Frank Ntilikina a bust

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Frank Ntilikina walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted eighth overall by the New York Knicks during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Frank Ntilikina walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted eighth overall by the New York Knicks during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Frank Ntilikina may not live up to the hype, but until his career actually begins, New York Knicks fans have no reason to call him a bust.

The New York Knicks have invested in French point guard Frank Ntilikina as a franchise cornerstone. The enigmatic European phenom offers elite size, overwhelming defensive potential, and a modern offensive skill set at the NBA’s most prominent position.

Unfortunately, the Summer League success of the player selected directly after Ntilikina, Dennis Smith Jr., has some singing, “Bust.”

Less than a month after the Knicks drafted Ntilikina, people are already comparing him to Frederic Weis.

The intention of this article isn’t to bash Adam Schefter, whose tweet was retweeted more than 600 times and liked roughly 1,800 times. Instead, it’s an acknowledgement of the facts that seem to be overlooked.

If you’re singing, “Bust,” because of Summer League, you’re getting way too far ahead of yourself.

Leading up to the 2017 NBA Draft, one of the prospects who was most commonly linked to the Knicks was Smith Jr. An explosive athlete with a well-rounded scoring skill set, Smith Jr. has the makings of a franchise player.

Due to the fact that Smith has turned the 2017 Summer League into his own personal proving ground, tweets like the one sent out by Schefter have consistently surfaced.

Impressive as Smith has been, using his performances at Summer League to devalue the Ntilikina pick is irrational. Smith would have been an excellent choice for New York, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Ntilikina will fall on his face.

Considering NBA fans have yet to see Ntilikina play a single game in the NBA, the word, “Bust,” is based entirely on speculation.

When New York selected Ntilikina at No. 8 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, it did so with an eye for defense. Ntilikina is widely regarded as the point guard with the highest defensive ceiling in this draft class, and Summer League hasn’t changed that status.

If Ntilikina makes good on his two-way promise and potential, then Summer League will be a mere blip on the radar.

Again: This post isn’t attempting to state that Ntilikina will be better than Smith Jr. Instead, it’s acknowledging the fact that calling Ntilikina a bust after watching another players shine in Summer League is irrational.

Smith Jr. may become a superstar, but that doesn’t mean Ntilikina won’t—and it doesn’t mean Summer League holds long-term relevance.

Rather than worrying about what isn’t, it’s more practical to appreciate and evaluate what is. In other words: Rather than harping upon the fact that Smith Jr. isn’t on the Knicks, focus on the player who is.

Until Ntilikina has played an NBA game, all talk of him being a bust is senseless, premature, and irresponsible.

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Whether or not the New York Knicks rookie lives up to the hype, it’s far too soon to even consider describing Frank Ntilikina as a bust.

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