New York Knicks: Who stepped up against the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 30?

Frank Ntilikina

The New York Knicks utilized the 2015 NBA Draft to find a franchise player, and the 2017 NBA Draft to find an oversized point guard with elite defensive potential. Thus far in 2017-18, that point guard, Frank Ntilikina, has produced polarizing results.

Against the Brooklyn Nets, Ntilikina stepped up to produce a well-rounded performance that helped reaffirm his status as a promising young player.

Ntilikina executed at a high level on defense, helping to contain Spencer Dinwiddie and D’Angelo Russell. Not only was he able to excel in on-ball situations, but he got back quickly in transition and made a number of advanced plays as a help defender.

It was another well-rounded defensive performance from Ntilikina, who’s steadily emerging as a player whom scorers and facilitators loathe playing against.

Overall, Ntilikina produced eight points, five assists, and a steal in 26 minutes of court time. He shot 3-of-7 from the field, but the most important truth is that he converted a pair of three-point field goals under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

After making just one of his previous six three-point field goal attempts, Ntilikina more than doubled the production in this encounter—ideally a sign of things to come.