Last month, at a media event in New York City, Frank Ntilikina met Spike Lee, the filmmaker and Knicks über-fan. Lee has never been shy about sharing his thoughts, certainly not when it comes to his beloved basketball team.

He is like many Knicks fans: devoted yet beaten down. The franchise has not made the postseason in four years. Its star player is currently in a stalemate with the front office and wants to go elsewhere. There is hope, but it seems off in the distance.

Ntilikina is not responsible for any of this. He is barely 19 years old and is the team’s most recent first-round pick. The Knicks selected him eighth over all in June’s N.B.A. draft, betting that his length, athleticism and capacity for the game will allow him to grow into a significant player. For now, at least, he is just adjusting to the beginning of his journey.

But a meeting with Lee is a reminder that expectations are always in front of your face.

“He said that we need to get better next year,” Ntilikina said, recounting Lee’s message. “Because that’s what we all want.”