New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina is finally playing with confidence

It’s been a long three seasons, but 21-year-old New York Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina is finally playing with confidence. It’s showing.

Since his rookie season, the knock against Frank Ntilikina has been consistent. It’s not that the New York Knicks guard lacks the skill level or physical tools to be successful in the NBA, but instead that he second-guesses his own abilities.

It’s taken time to get here, but the 21-year-old defensive specialist is finally playing with confidence on offense—and it’s showing.

Ntilikina’s per-game averages don’t exactly jump off the page, but the same can be said for his minutes. What can be seen, however, is that he’s made improvements in almost every phase of the game during the 2019-20 campaign.

According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Ntilikina’s confidence is rising due to the work he’s put in off the court and the improved comfort level he’s developed on it.

"“My confidence is growing over my first three years because of all the work I put in every day, getting in the gym working on my skills, working on my body,’’ Ntilikina said. “And today it’s helped me be more comfortable on the court and automatically being more confident. I think the part of the game improved most was confidence.”"

It would be ideal for Ntilikina and the Knicks to continue playing, but if that can’t happen, they certainly ended the season on a high note.

In Ntilikina’s second-to-last game of the 2019-20 regular season, he went off for 20 points and 10 assists against the Washington Wizards. He also racked up two steals, buried three three-point field goals, and got to the line for six free throw attempts.

Ntilikina had eight points and four rebounds in 23 minutes the next time out, including another six attempts from the free throw line.

Getting to the charity stripe is a direct result of an increased level of aggressiveness, and that’s exactly what Ntilikina had been displaying.

Over the course of his final 10 appearances, Ntilikina averaged 8.4 points and 3.6 assists on 42.6 percent shooting from the field in just 21.4 minutes of action. That translates to 14.1 points and 6.1 assists per 36 minutes, which is complemented by his 1.7 three-point field goals made.

Considering Ntilikina is also posting career-best marks in field goal, two-point, three-point, and free throw percentage in 2019-20, it’s easy to see how confidence has changed his game.

If Frank Ntilikina can build upon his promising 2019-20 season, the New York Knicks may have the two-way player they’ve been hoping for.