Despite the mountain of criticism he’s faced while playing for the New York Knicks, Frank Ntilikina took time out to praise the fans.
Over the course of the past three seasons, no member of the New York Knicks has faced more consistent criticism than Frank Ntilikina. There are pockets of fans who continue to believe in Ntilikina, but the general consensus has been that he’s underwhelmed.
Despite the narratives and critiques of his game, Ntilikina continues to approach the situation like someone who’s happy to be a member of the Knicks.
It’s easy to forget that Ntilikina is still just 21 years old and likely has another health-permitted decade before his athleticism will decline. Nevertheless, he’s been the target of criticism for his inability to generate consistent offense during his first three seasons.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, that hasn’t changed Ntilikina’s appreciation of both Knicks fans and Madison Square Garden.
"“Knicks fans, they love the team,’’ Ntilikina said. “They really want the team to be successful. They really have that drive with basketball. Also that’s what makes it really special to be able to play at the Garden.’’"
Whether or not you subscribe to the belief that Ntilikina will develop into a quality two-way player, it’s hard to dislike his approach.
Ntilikina has remained generally upbeat during his Knicks tenure, weathering the storm by playing hard whenever he’s received the chance. He’s been effusive in his praise of Knicks fans and has never seemed to waver when discussing his desire to play in New York.
That type of thick skin is what’s necessary to succeed in New York, which makes it understandable for a division of Knicks fans to support him on his NBA journey.
The fact that he’s still just 21 years of age—seriously, let’s hammer that home—warrants patience, as well.
For what it’s worth: Ntilikina has rallied in recent games to piece together a strong series of performances. He averaged 8.4 points and 3.6 assists in just 21.4 minutes over his past 10 games, which translates to 14.1 points and 6.1 assists per 36 minutes.
That includes a career night in his second-to-last game before the season was placed on hold, as he poured in 20 points and 10 assists against the Washington Wizards.
With a desire to improve and a willingness to take criticism, New York Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina continues to be one of the most compelling enigmas in the NBA.