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New York Knicks: Five reasons to love the Jarrett Jack signing

By Maxwell Ogden

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 28: Jarrett Jack #2 of the Brooklyn Nets defends the ball against the Miami Heat during the game on December 28, 2015 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 28: Jarrett Jack #2 of the Brooklyn Nets defends the ball against the Miami Heat during the game on December 28, 2015 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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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) /

4. Veteran Leadership

All eyes will be on Frank Ntilikina when the New York Knicks begin the 2017-18 NBA regular season. Before the games can be played, however, he’ll be tasked with making a difficult transition at a training camp that will put a bullseye on his chest.

There’s a deep competition at the point guard position, and that makes veterans a necessary presence for Ntilikina—for all of the ups and downs that he encounters.

An incoming rookie can be demoralized and discouraged well before he takes the court for a regular season game. If he enters training camp and struggles to hold his own, that could ruin his confidence before he has a chance to adjust to the pace of the NBA.

Having experienced veterans like Jarrett Jack and Ramon Sessions at training camp will enable the Knicks to provide Ntilikina with mentors during the first stage of his NBA career.

Come the regular season, having either Jack or Sessions on the roster would mean providing Ntilikina with that voice of reason for the entire first year of his career. Whether or not Jack makes the 15-man cut, his presence at training camp indicates that New York wants high-character veterans in Ntilikina’s ear.

That alone is reason to love the fact that New York has added Jack to its training camp roster.