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?
Honorable Mention: Limit Turnovers And Take Chances
There’s a thin line to be walked when a point guard is adjusting to playing in the NBA. It’s important to encourage said players to take chances, but it’s also imperative to limit turnovers and not sink their team’s opportunity to achieve victory.
In the curious case of Frank Ntilikina, the best thing that Jeff Hornacek can encourage his rookie point guard to do is take chances—within reason.
Winning takes precedence over all else, but the key to any rebuild is developing the younger players’ talents. In Ntilikina’s case, he has the tools to be a high-level facilitator and three-point shooter, as well as a lockdown defender.
One could argue that he can develop those abilities by playing within the system, but he must not be afraid to take chances and develop an understanding of what he can do.
Playing within the system is what Ntilikina has been doing throughout his career in the FIBA ranks. Now in the NBA, he must continue to do so, while simultaneously developing an understanding of his limitations and capabilities.
This has more to do with the coach than the player, but when Hornacek gives Ntilikina the green light, he must not be afraid to capitalize on those opportunities.
5. Develop Three-Point Range
One of the biggest differences between FIBA and the NBA is the distance between the three-point lines and the basket. In the NBA, the range is 23 feet and nine inches from the top of the three-point line—far deeper than FIBA’s line at 22 feet and one and three-quarter inches deep
That difference of roughly one foot and seven inches is one that Frank Ntilikina will need to adapt to and overcome if he’s going to find his niche in the NBA.
Ntilikina’s jump shot isn’t perfect, but it became a strength during his career in LNB Pro A and international competition. That may not translate to the NBA three-point line, but it should help him convert from midrange.
If he’s able to develop some level of comfort from 16-to-20 feet, then it stands to reason that the adjustment to the NBA three-point line should become easier for him to adjust to.
By developing three-point range, Ntilikina would be able to play both with and without the ball under Jeff Hornacek. The New York Knicks project to utilize point guards in both on and off-ball capacities, and in the modern NBA, that requires the ability to convert from beyond the arc.
There are other ways that Ntilikina can stay on the court, but being able to space the floor for Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis would be an excellent start.
4. Develop The Pick And Roll
The New York Knicks have two potentially elite pick and roll options in Willy Hernangomez and Kristaps Porzingis. Hernangomez sets hard screens and has soft hands in the paint, and Porzingis adds the dynamic element of being able to fade out to the perimeter.
Frank Ntilikina already has extensive experience running the pick and roll, which makes the development of that very play an essential goal.
The unfortunate truth about the triangle offense is that it essentially ignored the value of the pick and roll. That isn’t a full condemnation of the system, but it’s a troubling fact that New York rarely utilized one of the most effective plays in the modern NBA.
Phil Jackson was right to believe that teams shouldn’t depend too heavily on the pick and roll, but with the triangle offense out, Jeff Hornacek will be able to put it to better use.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Ntilikina believes that he and Porzingis will be able to catch teams off-guard with the unique manner in which they run the play.
"Pick-and-roll … we’re both from Europe. We have a different way to play the pick-and-roll, the action not every American player has."
Hornacek knows as much about how to put the pick and roll to efficient use as any coach in the NBA, and Ntilikina and Porzingis are perfect weapons.
Ntilikina has an invaluable advantage with the vantage point of a 6’5″ facilitator. If he can get his three-point and midrange jump shots to the point of respectability as a rookie, guards will be forced to climb over screens to defend the play.
If that proves to be the case, then that alone should help the Knicks run a more efficient and reliable offense in 2017-18.
3. Prioritize Defense
No issue has plagued the New York Knicks more over the past two seasons than defensive inconsistency. Although there’s been blame to spread around, no position players have struggled more for the Knicks on defense than those at point guard.
There are other areas in which Frank Ntilikina should look to step up, but if he prioritizes defense, he will stay on the court—and will thus have opportunities to explore other facets of his game.
At 6’5″ and 170 pounds with a projected 7’0″ wingspan, Ntilikina has the physical gifts to be a deterrent from day one. He’ll need to bulk up in order to maximize his defensive potential, but his size and length alone can be a tool.
Ntilikina should not only experience success in the passing lanes, but should be able to contest jump shots and keep slashers in front him with reasonable effectiveness as a rookie.
If Ntilikina puts those physical gifts to use, he should be a significantly better defender than New York’s most recent options at point guard—a relatively easy task. In turn, he should do enough for Jeff Hornacek to reward him with minutes at the point guard position.
Playing defense is often a rewardless endeavor outside of the pursuit of victory, but in New York, Ntilikina should learn just how much fans appreciate it.
2. Become The Full-Time Starter
If Frank Ntilikina needs more than 82 games to adjust to the NBA, it would be hard to hold it against him. He’s a rookie point guard entering a golden era for his position, and will thus be tasked with defending and creating against high-quality competition on a nightly basis.
True as that may be, the path has been cleared for Ntilikina to become the full-time starter at point guard by the end of the 2017-18 season.
The point guards on New York’s roster are Ron Baker, Jarrett Jack, Chasson Randle, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Ntilikina, and Ramon Sessions. That creates a significant measure of competition, primarily due to Baker’s intangibles, and Jack and Sessions’ veteran experience.
Unless Baker or Randle take a significant step forward during their second NBA seasons, however, no one should pose too much of a threat to Ntilikina.
If Ntilikina defends at a high level and shoots with reasonable efficiency, he should see significant playing time. If he can also create a steady flow on offense, then it stands to reason that he’ll become the full-time starter by season’s end.
Ntilikina shouldn’t measure his progress by his playing time, as New York may attempt to protect him as a rookie, but this is a fair and realistic goal to set for himself.
1. Help New York Make The Playoffs
One could fairly argue that the New York Knicks were a solid point guard away from competing for the playoffs in each of Phil Jackson’s three seasons as team president. Even if one were to subtract the 2014-15 disaster, the 2015-16 and 2016-17 rosters were otherwise strong.
The absence of a consistent defender and playmaker at point guard was the primary limitation, and Frank Ntilikina possesses intriguing potential in both regards.
New York has started a number of players at point guard over the past two seasons, with Jose Calderon and Derrick Rose receiving the lion’s share of the minutes. Calderon struggled to stay in front of slashers in 2015-16, and Rose ranked No. 73 amongst point guards in Defensive Real-Plus Minus in 2016-17.
If Ntilikina can defend at an even average level, he’d be a massive upgrade over the defensive turnstiles whom New York started in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
From a facilitating perspective, no Knick has averaged more than 4.9 assists per game since 2013-14. It’s fair to believe that, with starting-caliber minutes, Ntilikina should exceed that number and thus help create a significantly healthier flow offensively.
If Ntilikina merely checks those two boxes and spaces the floor with reasonable consistency, the Knicks should be significantly better with the current roster.
Must Read: 5 realistic goals for Jeff Hornacek in 2017-18
In turn, Frank Ntilikina could become the missing piece and thus help the New York Knicks make the playoffs for the first time since 2012-13.