Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: 5 players Frank Ntilikina should study

By Maxwell Ogden

GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: Frank Ntilikina of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: Frank Ntilikina of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
HOUSTON – JUNE 19: Derek Harper #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles against Sam Cassell #10 of the Houston Rockets during Game Six of the NBA Finals played on June 19, 1994 at the The Summit in Houston, Texas. Copyright 1994 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON – JUNE 19: Derek Harper #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles against Sam Cassell #10 of the Houston Rockets during Game Six of the NBA Finals played on June 19, 1994 at the The Summit in Houston, Texas. Copyright 1994 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Derek Harper

The New York Knicks received contributions from Derek Harper during the twilight of his career. Even after his prime years with the Dallas Mavericks, however, Harper was a valuable two-way player who contributed in every phase of the game.

If Frank Ntilikina is looking for a solid foundation to build upon, then Harper can show him a blueprint to what it takes to be a successful NBA point guard.

Harper was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team on two separate occasions. That’s especially impressive when one considers the fact that the competition included the likes of Michael Cooper, Joe Dumars, Dennis Johnson, and Michael Jordan.

Harper racked up steals as well as one could have asked him to, but it was his versatility and proficiency in on-ball situations that helped him make his name.

Offensively, Harper had a solid outside shot and utilized his 6’4″ frame to consistently get to the rim. He wasn’t the most explosive athlete in the NBA, but he managed to both facilitate and score via his ability to play the angles.

Ntilikina will be asked to aim to the height of an All-NBA player, but Harper is the type of point guard whom the Knicks rookie should pattern himself after.

Home/Knicks Draft