The New York Knicks selected Frank Ntilikina eighth overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. How have players the Knicks passed on fared since then?
In 2017, the New York Knicks made Frank Ntilikina the eighth player selected in the NBA Draft. Out of France, and picked by the old Phil Jackson regime, Ntilikina arrived as a raw prospect with physical upside.
Almost two seasons later, the book on the 20 year old is not out, but not completed. His career line of 35.6 percent shooting for 5.9 points leaves much to be desired, but he’s young and can still take advantage of an opportunity on a floundering Knicks team.
New York made him a high selection in 2017. Other players followed him, however, including one former NBA Rookie of the Year candidate and someone who’s in the Big Apple now.
How have these players performed over the past 21 months? Who has stood out among the pack after Ntilikina? Let’s take a look:
Age: 21
Height, Weight: 6-foot-3, 195 pounds
Slash Line: .408/.318/.672
Career Averages: 14.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.4 3PM
Dennis Smith Jr. was bound to be linked to Frank Ntilikina forever. They went in consecutive picks, at the same position, in the 2017 NBA Draft, which caused controversy since the former was more proven than the latter, who did not play North American basketball.
The Dallas Mavericks picked Smith ninth and installed him as their point guard of the future. It did not result in the most efficient season, at 39.5 percent shooting on 14.8 shot attempts, but he was young enough to believe in his potential.
A bumpier ride in 2018-19 changed Smith’s fortunes, however, including a brief exile, as the Mavericks tried to trade him mid-season. He returned briefly, but a short time later, Dallas connected with the New York Knicks for the Kristaps Porzingis trade, allowing the North Carolina State product a fresh start.
Smith has since held the starting point guard role — arriving as Ntilikina and Emmanuel Mudiay got hurt in January.
The numbers have not proven to be a landslide success, but Smith still has 15.1 points and 6.5 assists per game as a Knick. The advertised athleticism is there, while the defense and outside shooting leaves something to be desired.
Either way, Ntilikina and Smith are now teammates and still connected until they depart the NBA. They might not stay together forever, but until then, it makes for an interesting side-by-side comparison.