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New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina is already a tormenting defender

By Maxwell Ogden

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 29: Dwyane Wade #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers fights to maintain control while under pressure from Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on October 29, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 29: Dwyane Wade #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers fights to maintain control while under pressure from Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on October 29, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Five games into his NBA career, New York Knicks rookie Frank Ntilikina is already becoming a feared and respected defender.

Entering the 2017-18 regular season, fans and analysts expressed their frustration with Phil Jackson for selecting Frank Ntilikina at No. 8 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. The working theory was that the New York Knicks needed an explosive playmaker such as Malik Monk or Dennis Smith Jr. to kickstart the offense.

As the Knicks work through the first season of the post-Jackson and post-Melo era, however, Ntilikina is proving to have significant short-term and long-term value.

It’s possible that Ntilikina will never be the scorer that Monk promises to be, nor the explosive playmaker that Smith has the potential to become. Thus, it’s understandable for fans to be frustrated by these developments in such an offensive-minded NBA.

As it pertains to execution on the defensive end of the floor, however, Ntilikina’s ceiling may be the highest of any guard to emerge from the 2017 NBA Draft.

If Ntilikina were an American-born prospect, he likely would’ve been a top 5 draft pick. He has elite size for this era’s most glorified position as a 6’5″ point guard with an unfathomable 7’0″ wingspan and NBA-caliber lateral quickness.

It’s only been five games, but Ntilikina is already putting those physical gifts to use by hounding opponents on the defensive end of the floor.

While critics have focused on Ntilikina’s struggles as a shooter, opponents have been decimated by his defensive prowess. He’s dominating the passing lanes with no hyperbole whatsoever, and picking the pockets of even the best offensive players in the NBA.

That includes Houston Rockets superstar James Harden, who couldn’t get away from Ntilikina fast enough during Houston’s blowout win over New York.

He’s only played five games, but Ntilikina is already stuffing the stat sheet on the defensive end of the floor. He recorded five steals in just 26 minutes against the Rockets, which wasn’t much of a change from the norm.

Ntilikina is currently averaging 2.0 steals in just 17.6 minutes per game, which translates to 4.1 steals per 36 minutes—absurd numbers for any player, let alone a rookie.

Ntilikina is only pulling down 3.3 rebounds per 36, but that isn’t as bad as some are making it out to be. Point guards who rebound generally leave their assignments, whether by flaw or design as they attempt to kickstart the transition offense.

Ntilikina is latching onto his man, whether that happens to be a fundamentally flawless playmaker such as Harden or an athletic slasher such as Derrick Rose.

Must Read: Who stepped up against the Houston Rockets?

Thus, while the New York Knicks may not be receiving the offensive production that Malik Monk and Dennis Smith Jr. provide, Frank Ntilikina is proving to possess elite potential on defense.

For an organization like the Knicks, that’s exactly what’s been missing.

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