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New York Knicks: Who stepped up with Kristaps Porzingis absent?

By Maxwell Ogden

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 8: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 of the New York Knicks goes for a lay up against the Orlando Magic on November 8, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 8: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 of the New York Knicks goes for a lay up against the Orlando Magic on November 8, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 5: Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Indiana Pacers on November 5, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 5: Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Indiana Pacers on November 5, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Frank Ntilikina

The New York Knicks have trusted Frank Ntilikina to provide immediate contributions during his rookie season. Matched up against an Orlando Magic team that was scoring in bunches, Ntilikina continued to establish himself as a promising young facilitator.

A rookie season is all about taking your lumps and learning from your experiences, and Ntilikina continued to do exactly that against Orlando.

Ntilikina played 23 minutes against the Magic, recording six points, nine assists, four rebounds, one block, and a steal. He shot 3-of-7 from the field, committed just two turnovers, and pulled down an offensive rebound along the way.

Ntilikina has a tendency to pass up a good shot for an opportunity at an assist, but he’s become one of the better facilitators to emerge from his draft class.

Ntilikina has dished out at least seven assists in four of his past five appearances. The nine assists are his new career-high, but at the rate he’s playing and producing, that’s a personal record that’s likely going to fall by the end of the 2017-18 season.

For what it’s worth: Through 11 games, the Knicks have net ratings of +4.8 with Ntilikina on the court and -6.0 when he isn’t—a difference of 10.8 points per 100 possessions.

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