Through his first two seasons with the Knicks, Frank Ntilikina established himself as one of the most polarizing figures among fans. An astute, confident and intelligent defensive player on arrival, the Frenchman’s offensive game lagged far behind. Despite good feel out of the pick-and-roll, Ntilikina’s ball-handling, shot creation, and general aggression were not sufficient for the demands placed upon primary ball-handlers in today’s NBA.
To muddy the waters further, the organization’s commitment to his development has been in question since day one. A lottery selection just days before then-team president Phil Jackson was ousted in favor of the now-departed Steve Mills, Ntilikina saw a parade of veterans and reclamation projects brought in to compete for the starting point guard spot, players that often — confusingly — seemed to be given priority over the franchise’s own lottery pick.