Frank Ntilikina is a shining example of the impatience of a title-starved New York Knicks fanbase. Ntilikina failed to produce big numbers as a rookie, which subsequently resulted in the belief that he’ll never be more than an elite on-ball defender.
When David Fizdale was interviewed for the position of head coach, however, the Knicks made it a point to ask him how he’d utilize Ntilikina.
Knowing this to be true, it’s safe to assume that Ntilikina is viewed by the front office as a franchise cornerstone. That belief is supported by the fact that general manager Scott Perry published an article before the 2017-18 season that listed Ntilikina as such.