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
3 of 6
Next
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 30: Ricky Rubio #9 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 30, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 30: Ricky Rubio #9 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 30, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Ricky Rubio

Ricky Rubio may not be on the same level as some of the other players on this list, but he’s an excellent case study for Frank Ntilikina. Not only do they play somewhat similar games, but Rubio can show Ntilikina how to make the jump from Europe to the NBA.

If Ntilikina is going to translate his game to the highest possible level, then Rubio would be a fitting player to evaluate.

Rubio, who has a similar physical profile to Ntilikina, has become one of the best defensive point guards in the NBA. He routinely ranks amongst the best at his positions in Defensive Real Plus-Minus, and does an outstanding job of contesting shots and containing slashers.

Ntilikina has similar potential, if not a higher ceiling, which makes Rubio an excellent player to study, if not pattern his game after.

Offensively, Rubio has become one of the best facilitators in the NBA—a trait Ntilikina will attempt to emulate. Rubio is flashier than Ntilikina will need to be, but the flash is backed by elite substance and fundamental polish.

Ntilikina already has the advantage of possessing a better jump shot than Rubio, but they can play the game in similar ways and help their respective teams compete at a postseason-caliber level.

Home/Knicks Draft