New York Knicks: New head coach must connect with Frank Ntilikina

As the New York Knicks search for a new head coach, a top priority must be finding an individual who can connect with Frank Ntilikina.

A major aspect of a point guard’s job is the same as a coach’s: Knowing the personnel. That not only requires passing the ball to the open man, but knowing when and where they like the ball, and what type of shots they’re comfortable taking.

That entails giving teammates passes that lead them to their spots. It also requires said player to know limitations, such as how hard of a pass a teammate can handle, if they can work off a bounce pass, and where they like the ball to be delivered for a catch-and-shoot situation.

The list could continue, but the responsibility of the point guard position is layered and filled with nuances that can’t be overlooked.

Now more than ever, a point guard must also know when to play without the ball. It seems easy enough, but when one player is tasked with creating so much for other players, it can be a blow to their ego when they’re then asked to take a hands-off approach.

It’s an issue that even the greatest of point guards and overall floor generals have encountered, including a pre-Rockets Chris Paul and a pre and post-Heat LeBron James.

For the New York Knicks, developing Frank Ntilikina in that role will be the most vital process of the current rebuild. He’s already displayed the ability to blend on and off-ball duties, and he’s still just 19 years of age—truths that are often overlooked.

There’s still a mountain of work to be done, however, and that’s what makes the Knicks’ new coaching hire one of critical importance.

Ntilikina is a sponge for knowledge and a workhorse on the defensive end of the floor. Thus, a coach won’t have to convince the European enigma to play hard on defense, nor pay attention during practices, meetings, or other learning sessions.

What a coach will be tasked with is helping Ntilikina come into his own as a player and develop the vital skills of a point guard.

Ntilikina made progress towards achieving that goal during the 2017-18 regular season. He finished 20 games with at least five assists, and the results reflected just how significant an impact his facilitating touch can have.

New York was 11-9 during the 20 games during which Ntilikina recorded at least five assists, which means it was just 18-44 in the 62 games he failed to.

One could harp on the percentage of games during which Ntilikina reached five assists, but he was always going to be a project. Fans became jaded because of the unexpectedly immediate success of Kristaps Porzingis, but he was far more of an anomaly than the rule.

For all of the inconsistency, there were flashes of brilliance that implied Ntilikina could become the full-time point guard in 2018-19 and beyond.

As a distributor, Ntilikina flashed a unique ability to operate the pick and roll. The angles he played were different from what NBA defenders typically experience, which gave the Knicks a distinct advantage when running the play.

As Ntilikina became more confident in his jump shot, the efficiency with which he ran the play inevitably increased.

As for his scoring, Ntilikina scored in double figures in seven of his final 20 games after doing so in just six of his first 58 appearances. That includes an average of 8.8 points per game on 40.4 percent shooting from the field and 35.0 percent shooting from distance during his final 12 outings.

Those numbers may not blow you away, but up to that point, Ntilikina had been averaging 5.4 points per game on a slash line of .353/.308/.726.

Again: Progress.

Having proven that he’s willing to put the work in, what Ntilikina needs at this stage of his development is leadership. He’ll be enduring his first full offseason of strength and conditioning training in 2018, which will inevitably improve his ability to handle the physicality of the game.

Considering he managed to appear in 78 of a possible 82 games while making the incomparably difficult transition from France to the NBA, he’s already off to a great start.

What the next head coach will need to do is help Ntilikina find his identity on the offensive end of the floor. Whether he’s more of a score-first or pass-first player, what’s clear is that the 19-year-old needs to find his niche.

If the new head coach succeeds in helping Ntilikina find himself on the court, then he’ll justify the hiring.

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Kristaps Porzingis is the franchise player, but it’s Frank Ntilikina who holds the keys to the future of the New York Knicks.