Sports

This could be Frank Ntilikina’s first step toward Knicks comeback

With a push from his new French agent, Frank Ntilikina is all in on playing for the French National Team in the prestigious FIBA World Cup, according to NBA sources. The event is held in China from Aug. 31 to Sept. 15.

The French team is expected to gather for training camp and exhibitions starting on July 27. Last summer, Ntilikina, who was on the trading block on draft night, declined to play for France in the qualifiers for the World Cup to work with Knicks coaches.

Coming off a severe groin injury, Nilikina, 20, played just 43 games in his second season.

Because he makes $5 million next season and still hasn’t proven himself durable or productive enough for a mid-lottery pick, the Knicks had entertained offers for the French point guard on draft night and at February’s trade deadline.





But the offers weren’t deemed worthy of a player who is a known stout defender and still has upside as an offensive player if he can improve upon his 3-point shooting (career 30.5 percent).

The Knicks’ chances of using all their cap space on two max free agents have lessened after Kevin Durant’s Achilles injury, so the need to add more space for this summer is lessening.

The Knicks would love to see Ntilikina on the court healthy after he missed 31 of the final 33 games. The French gig will give them a chance.

In late October, the Knicks must decide on whether to exercise Ntilikina’s fourth-year option, which is $6.1 million. The Knicks will monitor Ntilikina during his work with France.





Ntilikina changed agents after the season, firing Creative Artists Agency and hiring Bouna Ndiaye, who is from France.

Ntilikina will become teammates with prominent NBA players Nicolas Batum, Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier. Also on the preliminary roster is Knicks 2014 second-round pick Louis Labeyrie, who had a good year in Spain. The Knicks still own his rights.

Ntilikina had been training in Dallas with Knicks point guard Kadeem Allen, who is on a two-way deal for next season.

Ntilikina had been in France most of the offseason and came to New York last Thursday to watch his French friend, forward Sekou Doumbouya, get drafted 15th by Detroit. They played together on France’s 18-and-under team back in the day.





With the pie-in-the-sky hope of pairing Durant and Kyrie Irving no longer considered a strong possibility, the Knicks are looking at the long-game plan.

Knicks president Steve Mills added three prospects from the 2019 draft — RJ Barrett, Ignas Brazdeikis and Kris Wilkes — to go along with three young players from the 2018 draft (Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox, Allonzo Trier). They join another trio from the 2017 draft class (Ntilikina, Dennis Smith Jr., Damyean Dotson).

The Frenchman still has a chance of making it work in New York City and his French Team performances could only help his cause.





Share this: