New York Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina has had an interesting rookie season. Recently, he’s gotten increased opportunity, and he has played well. “Frankie Smokes” can play and guard multiple positions, and if nothing else, he looks like a lock to be a shutdown defender for years to come.
He’s earned the respect of some of his peers — including Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James.
“I think he knows how to play the game,” King James said, according to ESPN’s Ian Begley. “That’s the best thing, first of all. Very cerebral basketball player. I think, defensively, he’s more advanced than offensively. But I think offensively, he’s gotten better as he’s gotten more opportunity and played more games…I think every game, more and more, he gets the opportunity to play, more and more, he gets comfortable with the NBA game, his offensive game is getting better. Defensively he’s been good since he probably stepped on a basketball floor defensively so, it’s good for him.”
It’s interesting that LBJ made these comments considering the two got into a little kerfuffle after they collided during a November matchup. LeBron said in November, in an apparent shot at Phil Jackson, that the Knicks made a mistake by passing on Dennis Smith Jr., who instead fell to the Dallas Mavericks.
LeBron added that he’s been familiar with Ntilikina’s game for a while now, because LeBron’s close friend and former high school teammate Romeo Travis played with Ntilikina in France.
This Season
Ntilikina is averaging 5.7 points, 3.2 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game, but he’s only playing an average of 21.4 minutes. The Knicks have distributed guard minutes among Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, Jarrett Jack, Emmanuel Mudiay, Ntilikina, and Trey Burke.
Ntilikina has shown glimpses of brilliance.
Frank Ntilikina shake and bake!#Knicks #NBARooks pic.twitter.com/xgmy4RfctL
— NBA (@NBA) April 8, 2018
The Knicks selected Ntilikina, 19, No. 8 overall in last year’s draft. He played two years professionally in France and twice won the French League Best Young Player award.
