New York Knicks: The Quarter-Year Awards for 2019-20
Best Narrative: Frank Ntilikina Can Stick with Knicks
Remember the speculation before Ntilikina’s team option for 2020-21 was exercised? An offseason of trade drama questioned his future with the team, so picking up this option at least secured the 21-year-old point guard money.
Afterward, as noted, it was the positive performances upon taking the starting role. There is an NBA future for Ntilikina and it might be with the New York Knicks.
Honorable Mention: RJ Barrett is a Rookie of the Year Candidate
The first two weeks of the season, Barrett played like a runaway candidate, as New Orleans’ Zion Williamson sat out with a knee injury. There has been a drop-off since, but the Rookie of the Year race is hardly over, and an opportunity exists to close the gap while Memphis’ Ja Morant nurses an injury.
In-Between Narrative: David Fizdale’s Job Security
Much has been made of Fizdale’s status as head coach since that Mills-Perry presser. Some days, the Knicks play inspired basketball. Other days, the team gets blown out, Fizdale’s rotations come into question, and the sky is falling.
Blame can be attributed to all parties: Fizdale, the front office, and the players. It’s a collective effort.
Changes are inevitable; it’s just a matter of if Fizdale is the first of them.
Worst Narrative: Letting the Young Players Watch While Veterans Fail
There is something to letting the young players take a backseat to watch. Some players were thrown into the fire by playing, perhaps, too much in 2018-19.
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However, the veterans that took the youth’s spots have struggled to produce wins. The same (and new) young players deserve larger roles over a short-term fixture like Ellington and whenever Payton returns from injury. For his job’s sake, Fizdale might not do that, so it’s fair to assume no changes are on the horizon.