New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina’s complicated position after benching

The New York Knicks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, but with Frank Ntilikina on the bench. Where does he stand after this game?

Saturday’s win for the New York Knicks featured positives. Kevin Knox answered the call and had 26 points; Emmanuel Mudiay refused to miss three-point shots; Damyean Dotson made timely baskets. All went well, but it was one of two players who didn’t receive on-court time that became a headliner.

Frank Ntilikina was subject to criticism in the days before this game. From back-to-back scoreless games to trade rumors and harsh criticism from NBA personnel in a New York Post article, it was the loudest series of events in his young career.

Well, the dial was cranked up another notch.

Ntilikina, for the first time this season, did not enter a game via coach’s decision. His playing time had cratered since New York’s win over the Boston Celtics, moving from 27 to 14, 13, 15 and 14 in the next four games, respectively.

Consecutive scoreless games, along with the on-court disappearance, highlighted the prelude to Ntilikina’s benching. That brought him five games of zero points in his last 13.

Even more noteworthy was Trey Burke’s knee sprain just one minute into his appearance against Milwaukee. That seemed to set up Ntilikina’s in-game run, but did not become the case. Instead, Emmanuel Mudiay played 36 minutes and Tim Hardaway Jr. doled out eight assists.

It was eye-opening, but looking Ntilikina’s stretch since leaving the starting lineup, head coach David Fizdale rarely, if ever, had him on the ball. The Frenchman played between the two and three spots, which Dotson since overtook with consistent scoring performances off the bench.

Ntilikina was used in a low-pressure, defensive-minded role that, for now, he’s better suited for. It featured little, if any, need to create, but also limited his use for Fizdale’s desired offense that pushes the ball to the hoop. The 20-year-old infrequently goes to the basket, with just 12.4 percent of his shots between zero-to-three feet, which only tops Lance Thomas‘ 9.6 percent.

Couple that with just 3.5 points in the 11 games since his last double-digit scoring game, and it made Ntilikina’s defense just not enough to play him.

Was this a one-night-only occurrence? It’s something to consider, with Fizdale’s refusal to play Ntilikina after Burke’s injury. Just a game off to rest and potentially reenergize the sophomore, as Burke and Dotson found success with this season.

At the same time, Fizdale has Courtney Lee to eventually find minutes for. The 33-year-old guard did not play via coach’s decision, but it was also the first game he received clearance to appear in, and the New York Knicks stood up to the Bucks with the unit that played. That won’t last forever, or as soon as Monday against the Washington Wizards.

There’s a rotation conundrum for Fizdale to sort out, with a group that mostly warrants playing time. Maybe not, though, if players don’t perform up to his expectations on the court. Ntilikina finds himself in that spot and he may have to climb out before it’s too late.