Frank Ntilikina is entering his fourth NBA season. During that time, he played for three coaches and three team presidents.
Some observers cite all that turnover as a reason he didn’t consistently excel with the Knicks. Others wonder if the Knicks didn’t develop it properly or gave it enough time to play.
And then there’s a bunch of Knick watchers / fans who don’t believe Ntilikina has the talent / ability to be successful in the league.
2020-21 is a pivotal year for Ntilikina
He is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Knicks must decide at the end of the season if they want to offer him a new deal, or let him sign with another club as a limited free agent.
So Ntilikina’s future in New York depends, in part, on how new manager Tom Thibodeau sees him. Here’s what Thibodeau said on Sunday when asked for an early evaluation of Ntilikina:
“I like Frank,” he said. “Obviously, we didn’t have much time to spend together this summer. But I’m getting to know him now and there are things he does very, very well.
“He’s a good size, he’s versatile in defense and he works hard, so I want to see what he can do.”