New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina proves point guard is in his future

The Signs of Progress

When Frank Ntilikina arrived in New York, he was a wide-eyed 19-year-old who had never received strength or conditioning training. He was drafted to play a role that was changed mere days after he was selected at No. 8 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Throw in the additional adversity of having to help the Knicks overcome Tim Hardaway Jr.’s injury absence and then return to a lesser role, and the odds have been stacked against him.

Nevertheless, Ntilikina has displayed significant signs of progress. He’s added eight pounds to his frame since the beginning of the season, which has helped him fight over screens, take on slashing scorers, and provide better help defense down low.

It’s also helped him defend every position from 1 to 4 for head coach Jeff Hornacek—a truth that makes one wonder where he’ll be after another offseason with an NBA organization.

Offensively, Ntilikina has been more aggressive in his attempts to get to his spots and make a play when the opportunity presents itself. He’s still somewhat hesitant, but he’s peeled back a vast majority of the layers in that regard.

Statistics may be what the fantasy basketball generation of fans want to see, but Ntilikina has made visible progress in terms of his confidence as a scorer and playmaker.