New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina is finding his range

After struggling as a shooter early in the 2017-18 NBA regular season, New York Knicks rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina is beginning to find his range.

New York Knicks rookie Frank Ntilikina has earned the reputation of one of the most promising young on-ball defenders in the NBA. Statistically, he’s second in the NBA in steals per 36 minutes, and No. 16 in deflections per 36.

On the offensive end of the floor, however, Ntilikina has earned the reputation of a player who isn’t yet ready to contribute at a high level in the NBA—a reputation that may not fit.

Over the course of his past seven appearances, Ntilikina has begun to seek out his shot with more consistency. That began with the Knicks’ 103-91 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, when the 19-year-old matched a season-high with 11 field goal attempts.

Ntilikina shot a mere 4-of-11 from the field, but it was the beginning of what’s become his most efficient shooting stretch in the NBA.

Ntilikina followed that performance by posting nine points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field and 1-of-2 shooting from beyond the arc against the Orlando Magic. He went just 2-of-11 against the Indiana Pacers, but continued to be aggressive in the way he attacked the basket.

Ntilikina shot just 1-of-3 against the Memphis Grizzlies, but attempted eight free throws and continued to build confidence in his scoring abilities.

During the Knicks’ three most recent games, Ntilikina has elevated his game to an entirely different level. He posted 10 points and seven assists at the Chicago Bulls, shooting 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from distance.

He shot just 2-of-7 the next time out, but made a three-point field goal for a second consecutive game—a confidence-building performance that led to his best performance to date.

Ntilikina scored a career-high 13 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, adding five rebounds, five assists, and a steal during the 113-109 Knicks victory. He shot 5-of-11 from the field, and buried a career-best three three-point field goals on four attempts.

That includes a monster shot during the fourth quarter that he simply wouldn’t have had the confidence to attempt earlier this season.

The truth about what Ntilikina has done in recent outings is that it’s entirely about confidence. The Knicks are making a more concerted effort to get him shots, but the most significant development has been head coach Jeff Hornacek encouraging the rookie to shoot.

The only way for a rookie to adjust to the changes in pace, space, and distance are to confront them head-on, and Ntilikina is doing exactly that.

Many times this season, Ntilikina has been given space that he’s been afraid to utilize to his benefit. Teams are willing to test his jump shot, and with good reason. Ntilikina was shooting 24.3 percent from beyond the arc before this recent three-game string of success.

Whether the Knicks are running him off of screens or he’s pulling up in isolation, the difference in recent outings has simply been the absence of fear.

The Knicks are simply a different team when Ntilikina is willing to let his shot fly. They’re clearly better when it’s falling, but even the threat of the starting point guard shooting from distance adds a different element of pressure to an opposing defense.

It’s no coincidence that the Knicks are 7-4 when Ntilikina makes a three-point field goal and 7-9 when he fails to.

In addition to shooting more from distance, Ntilikina has addressed a mental lapse by going straight into his shot in isolation. New York wants to see him go harder to the rim, but he’s establishing himself as a viable threat to pull up and knock down midrange jump shots with efficiency.

One could argue that the recent rise in confidence began when Ntilikina hit this shot against the Trail Blazers:

Ntilikina utilized the high screen, but instead of looking to pass, he prioritized shooting. It was a difficult play, as Ntilikina had to cut back from his original move and pull up from 20 feet just to get the shot off.

When the shot fell, the rest fell into place with it. Over the course of the next seven minutes alone, Ntilikina converted two other shots from 20-plus feet—both off the dribble.

Since the Portland game, Ntilikina has explored the depth of his scoring arsenal at the NBA level. He’s showing far less hesitation when the ball comes his way for a shot from distance, and is pulling up in traffic when he feels he’s reached his spot.

Ntilikina is even posting smaller opponents up, which was a skill he displayed during his European basketball career.

At 6’5″ with a 7’0″ wingspan, that’s a strength worth exploring.

What Ntilikina’s recent success has enabled is such an elevation in self-belief that he’s begun to score in clutch situations. He scored seven consecutive points in the fourth quarter against the Lakers, including the previously alluded to bomb from distance.

That stretch of clutch scoring began against the Chicago Bulls, however, and continued against the Atlanta Hawks.

This marks three consecutive games that Ntilikina has stepped up in the clutch.

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The question is: Can Frank Ntilikina maintain this driven mentality and help the New York Knicks compete for immediate success?