New York Knicks: Players for Frank Ntilikina to study in isolation

Derek Harper

The New York Knicks have made two trips to the NBA Finals over the past 30 years. The 1999 team is fondly remembered by fans for its toughness and resilience, but it was the 1994 squad that had the best shot at capturing the title.

The starting point guard for the Knicks during that run was Derek Harper, who’d exited his prime by then, but still offered an abundance of appealing traits.

Harper was an outstanding defender who made the All-Defensive Second Team in both 1986-87 and 1989-90. He averaged 1.6 steals per game for his career, but it was the blend of ball-hawking and on-ball prowess that made him so highly regarded.

After spending the better part of 10 years with the Dallas Mavericks, he joined the Knicks in 1993-94 and made an immediate impact with his defense and facilitating.

The reason for Frank Ntilikina to study Harper is the latter strength: Facilitating. Harper averaged just 3.7 assists per game—and shot just 27.6 percent from three-point range—between his first two seasons, but upped that figure to 5.8 assists—on 35.6 percent shooting—over the next 13 years.

If Ntilikina can follow suit and improve as both a distributor and shooter while maintaining his defensive prowess, he’d be an invaluable presence.

Harper is a great player to study for any guard, but his career arc is especially fitting for Ntilikina.