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New York Knicks: Summer League players who are under contract

By Maxwell Ogden

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Kevin Knox talks to the media after being selected number nine overall by the New York Knicks on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center during the 2018 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Kevin Knox talks to the media after being selected number nine overall by the New York Knicks on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center during the 2018 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 19: Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Chicago Bulls on March 19, 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 19: Frank Ntilikina #11 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Chicago Bulls on March 19, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

27. . Guard. Second Season. Frank Ntilikina. 5. player

All eyes will be on Kevin Knox, but no one is under more pressure to perform at Summer League than Frank Ntilikina. Ntilikina was a force of nature on defense in 2017-18, but he was also a reluctant scorer and a hesitant playmaker who struggled to find his offensive niche.

At Summer League, Ntilikina will be tasked with proving that he’s improved his offensive game since the end of the 2017-18 season—and odds are, he will.

Ntilikina has been working to improve his handle, which will help him get to his spots on offense. Doing so will provide Ntilikina with an infinite number of options as a scorer or playmaker, as he has the size and length to finish at the rim or shoot over the average defender.

The key to Ntilikina’s development on offense will be an aggressive mentality, which head coach David Fizdale is actively attempting to instill.

When Ntilikina was in attack mode in 2017-18, he proved how much of a threat he can be in a scoring or playmaking role. It was a rare occurrence, but there are vivid examples of his upside, including his decimation of the Indiana Pacers in the clutch of an unforgettable comeback win.

If the Knicks provide Ntilikina with an opportunity to run the offense at Summer League, it’s fair to believe that he’ll make up for lost time by embracing the spotlight.

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