The New York Knicks are trusting Frank Ntilikina to become the point guard of the future. Which players should he study in preparation for that role?
The New York Knicks have entrusted the future of the organization to a European movement that’s divided minds around the NBA. Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez have won fans over, but former team president Phil Jackson took the process to another level in 2017.
With an opportunity to draft a point guard who specializes in offensive execution, Jackson instead selected defensive specialist Frank Ntilikina.
The buzz surrounding Ntilikina has been generally positive, as fans are coming around to the appeal of a 6’5″ point guard with a 7’0″ wingspan. It’s even more intriguing when one considers how poorly New York’s point guards have played for the better part of 20 years.
In order to realize his monumental potential, however, Ntilikina will need to make steady strides on both ends of the floor—and that’s where history comes into play.
The beauty of the NBA is that legends of the sport are often willing to give back. Even when they aren’t, there are countless hours of game film for players to evaluate as they add to their own game by studying what worked for similarly built players of today or yesteryear.
The question is: Which five point guards should New York Knicks rookie Frank Ntilikina be studying as he prepares for his NBA career?
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.
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.
3. Gary Payton
If the goal is elite defensive proficiency, then Gary Payton is the perfect player for Frank Ntilikina to study. One could fairly make the claim that no point guard has ever been more dominant on defense than The Glove.
A former Defensive Player of the Year and nine-time All-Defensive First Team honoree, Payton is the definition of brilliance on defense.
Payton’s nine All-Defensive First Team selections are the most by any point guard in NBA history. Even beyond the point guard position, only Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Michael Jordan have matched his nine nods—a testament to his legendary status.
Payton managed to achieve his reputation as a lockdown defender by maintaining a strong defensive base, developing a powerful core, and getting inside his opponents’ heads.
Ntilikina may never talk trash like Payton, but he has a similar build. He’s already displayed a passion for defense, and with the attention to detail that The Glove placed in his footwork and positioning, the French phenom could follow suit.
It’s unfair to place a Payton-like level of expectations on Ntilikina, but that doesn’t make him any less perfect to study and evaluate.
2. Jason Kidd
New York Knicks fans need no introduction to the brilliance of Jason Kidd. Even at 39 and 40 years of age, Kidd managed to be the veteran leader and pace-setting facilitator who helped the 2012-13 team win 54 games.
As for what Kidd brought to the table in his prime, however, the answer is simple and without any hyperbole whatsoever: Everything.
Like Ntilikina, Kidd brought elite size to the point guard position—a trait that helped improve the strength of every other phase of his game. He was a borderline lockdown defender, and his nine All-Defensive Team selections imply that he was better than borderline.
Kidd also led the New Jersey Nets to two NBA Finals, helped the Dallas Mavericks win a championship, and made five All-NBA First Team appearances.
Beyond the defense, Kidd was a legendary facilitator who led the NBA in assists on five separate occasions. He added a jump shot late in his career, but his game was all about pushing the pace, hitting the open man, and working the pick and roll when the game slowed down.
If Frank Ntilikina wants to learn how to facilitate an offense and defend his position at simultaneously elite levels, Kidd may be the best player to study as he pursues that delicate balance.
1. Walt Frazier
Walt Frazier has a right to the claim of being the most well-rounded point guard in NBA history. An elite defender, dominant scorer, and gifted facilitator, Frazier did it all for the New York Knicks—and that was no more true than during the playoffs.
Whether it was individual contributions or an invaluable willingness to sacrifice for his team, Frazier did it all—and Frank Ntilikina should follow his lead.
Frazier was a six-time All-NBA honoree and seven-time All-Defensive First Team selection. He averaged upwards of 20 points per game on six separate occasions, was one of the best facilitators in the NBA, and rebounded as well as any guard during his era.
Most importantly: Frazier won two NBA championships and made his legacy with a legendary 36-point and 19-assist performance in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals.
As Ntilikina attempts to find his way in the NBA, he should look to Frazier on a rather consistent basis. Frazier is the color commentator for the Knicks on MSG Network, and he never hesitates to make himself available to the younger generation.
If Ntilikina wants to become the best player he’s capable of being, then Frazier should be the legend whom he most closely studies.
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The New York Knicks are trusting Frank Ntilikina to shoulder a heavy burden of responsibility. Studying these five players could help him live up to the hype.