Fansided · Jan 15, 2019
New York Knicks: Adversity encompasses old point-guard debate
In 2017, the New York Knicks selected Frank Ntilikina over Dennis Smith Jr. in the NBA Draft. Less than two years later, situations have changed for both players.
Seemingly an eternity ago, in Phil Jackson‘s last draft as president of basketball operations for the New York Knicks, he selected Frank Ntilikina No. 8 overall. It was already a point guard-heavy top 10, with Lonzo Ball and De’Aaron Fox already taken at No. 2 and 5, respectively.
A debate never broke out for Ball and Fox, but for the Knicks pick, it became Ntilikina vs. Dennis Smith Jr., who went ninth to the Dallas Mavericks. Either the player with physical tools or the player that can impact the game now.
