New York Knicks point guard Frank Ntilikina is preparing for his rookie season. What are five realistic goals for New York’s 2018 lottery pick?
The New York Knicks shocked the masses by selecting Frank Ntilikina at No. 7 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. It was surprising on multiple levels, as Ntilikina was viewed as an enigmatic prospect, and fans didn’t believe New York would ever fill the longstanding void at point guard.
As the 2017-18 NBA regular season nears, however, the realization is setting in that Ntilikina represents something elusive at point guard: Sustainability.
Some would argue that the void at point guard has existed since Raymond Felton was traded during his breakout season in 2010-11. Others would push it back to the Stephon Marbury era, and a select few would even argue that it’s existed since Mark Jackson was traded in 1992.
Regardless of how long you believe the void at point guard has existed for, it’s undeniable that Ntilikina has a gaping void to fill in the rotation.
Realistically, Ntilikina will experience growing pains and face a learning curve during his first season in the NBA. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he’ll be a fish out of water, however, as he still has an opportunity to produce a high-quality rookie season.
The question is: What are realistic goals that Frank Ntilikina can set for himself for his rookie season with the New York Knicks?