New York Knicks: Five reasons to love Frank Ntilikina in the starting lineup

1. The potential to be permanent

Frank Ntilikina’s spot was supposed to belong to Kevin Knox, who David Fizdale previously penciled into the starting lineup. Once their respective preseason lines were evaluated, it changed everything.

Knox still has yet to play a meaningful NBA game, so it’s difficult to call this a disappointing event in his young career. There’s upside for him as a tall, aggressive scorer that plays for a decade.

Maybe, the Kentucky product’s starting opportunity will arise later in the season, and it could happen in place of someone else, because Ntilikina might not give up his spot.

If the former pick of Phil Jackson shows offensive improvement, continues to display versatility and works hard to continue to earn his spot, he won’t go anywhere. That’s an exciting proposition for the New York Knicks and a concern for others, especially if Knox develops simultaneously.

Lance Thomas and Trey Burke potentially stand as the first two exits from the starting lineup, if it ever reaches this point. That may mean Knox moves into the power forward role to replace Thomas or small forward if Burke moves to the bench.

Knox inevitably replacing one of these players only happens if Ntilikina plays well enough to stay in the starting lineup. His preseason run indicated the potential to remain a starter in the NBA, but can he keep it amid team struggles and the surge of others?