Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: Handing out awards for the 2017-18 NBA season

By Maxwell Ogden

PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 26: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks before the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on January 26, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 26: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks before the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on January 26, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 23: Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks plays defense against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 23, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 23: Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks plays defense against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 23, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Rookie of the Year: Frank Ntilikina

With all due respect to Damyean Dotson, Isaiah Hicks, and Luke Kornet, this selection is rather obvious. Frank Ntilikina may not have recorded the most ideal of statistics, but he’s pieced together what should be viewed as a quality rookie season.

A two-way player who doesn’t take possessions off, Ntilikina represents a return to the defensive-minded formula that brought the New York Knicks to past glory.

Ntilikina may not have posted the most gaudy of statistics, but he had stronger numbers than one might first assume. He joined Mark Jackson, Rod Strickland, and Greg Anthony as the only Knicks to record at least 250 assists and 50 steals as rookies over the past 30 years.

Ntilikina also became the first rookie in franchise history to record at least 250 assists and 50 three-point field goals—certainly a feather in his cap.

Beyond the numbers, Ntilikina displayed the versatility and instincts of a legitimately elite on-ball defender. Whether he was defending every position from 1 to 4 or providing exquisite help defense, The French Prince proved he thinks the game at an advanced level.

Described by LeBron James as cerebral, Gregg Popovich as fearless, and both Kyrie Irving and Tony Parker as a great defender, Ntilikina is New York’s 2017-18 Rookie of the Year.

Home/Knicks News