Frank Ntilikina

The New York Knicks selected French point guard Frank Ntilikina with the 8th pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night.

Ntilikina is an 18-year-old point guard with a 7’0″ wingspan.  He was the MVP of the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship in 2016 and is a two-time French League Best Young Player Award winner.  That’s quite a few accolades for someone his age.  Ntilikina also become the youngest player ever drafted from the French League.

It’s no secret that the Knicks desperately needed a quality point guard with Derrick Rose headed to free agency. He is the youngest player in this draft class and is considered by many scouts to be an elite defender. Malik Monk and Dennis Smith Jr. were also available for Phil Jackson when the Knicks were on the clock at No. 8, but they elected to go with the player who they think will fit best in the triangle offense.

The pick received mixed reactions from the Knicks fans who were in attendance at Barclays Center.  There were some cheers, along with a smattering of boos from the crowd.  Kristaps Porzingis received a similar reaction when he was drafted back in 2015, but quickly became a fan favorite thanks in large part to his play on the court.

Ntilikina played 44 games for Strasbourg during the 2016-17 season, averaging 5.3 points and three assists per game. It will take him some time to get stronger and adjust to playing in the NBA, but there is definitely some upside here.  He has played tough games against top International competition, which should only help him during his first year in New York and beyond.

I think the Knicks made the right call here.  Monk and Smith Jr. were flashier names, but Jackson gave New York another building block to go into the future with.  Ntilikina will fit in nicely with Porzingis if the Knicks don’t trade him this summer. 

The Knicks also have fellow Europeans Willy Hernangomez and Mindaugas Kuzminskas on their roster heading into next season.

In the second-round the Knicks selected Damyean Dotson, a shooting guard from the University of Houston with the 44th pick. They rounded out their draft by taking a third guard, Serbia’s Ognjen Jaramaz with the 58th selection.

Jackson said he wanted guards in this draft and for once, he actually kept his word.  Three big, International guards who are fits for the triangle offense.