Knicks point guard Frank Ntilikina has yet to live up to the expectations fans had of him when the team took him to number 8 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Ntilikina averages just 6.0 points and 3.1 assists per game over 178 games (51 games) in his career. Despite his low offensive numbers, the guard has become a very solid defender in the NBA.
With new manager Tom Thibodeau bringing his defensive stance to the Knicks, it could be the perfect match for Ntilikina to improve his game. The guard spoke to reporters via Zoom on Thursday to discuss Thibodeau’s strategy and next season.
“Obviously it translates, defense is really important in the game nowadays,” said Ntilikina. “It allows a team to win championships and to consistently be in matches and win. Obviously he had a lot of emphasis on that side of the pitch. We will play very intense defense for 48 minutes tomorrow.”