Maybe LeBron James would have picked Dennis Smith Jr. over Frank Ntilikina last June if he ran the Knicks. Still, the team that got Ntilikina is happy. They’re not alone. One guy who has been impressed so far is the greatest point guard in Knicks history, Hall of Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier.

Frazier, of course, is a TV analyst for the Knicks, who face the Raptors in Toronto on Friday, but he won’t give unwarranted praise. He likes what he has seen in the rookie and has a few pointers that he’ll be glad to pass along. Ntilikina, still figuring out that in Manhattan avenues run north-south, streets go east-west, wants to chat with the Knicks legend and pick his brain.

So what does Clyde like so far?

“Defense,” Frazier said without hesitation of Ntilikina, who ranked first among rookies — tied for second among everybody — in steals with 2.00 a game after collecting two more in the 106-101 victory over Utah on Wednesday at the Garden. “That’s what I came in with, a defensive reputation. He’s getting a little more confidence in his shooting. You’ve got to work a little on the left hand and penetrating, try to get to the hoop a little more.”

But the defense already has won over teammates.

“He’s being aggressive and trying to make plays,” Courtney Lee said. “He already had the physical gifts, being 6-5, 6-6, with long arms and the foot quickness. It’s him just learning the terminology and where to be. You knew that was gonna take time, but he’s matured fast.”

Kristaps Porzingis agreed.

“He’s been really good for us just pressuring their point guard. That kind of sets the tone for every position,” Porzingis said.

Ntilikina arrived with a defensive rep, rare for those coming from Europe. Ntilikina’s long arms give him an edge Frazier admires. But…

There’s always a “but.” And it’s the type of stuff Ntilikina wants to hear. And he may hear it from the Hall of Famer.

“I look forward to talking to him,” said Ntilikina, who studied tapes of Frazier. “You saw what he did, and I can learn a lot from him.”

Frazier knows where the lesson can start — with Ntilikina’s strength: defense.

“He has a great sense of defense. Guys can’t get around him. He’s got those long arms,” Frazier said, “but what he’s got to realize is when you’re too aggressive, you can’t make steals because guys are going to be alert.”

Frazier then conducted a mini-defensive clinic. In a sports jacket only Clyde can pull off, he stood chest-to-chest, nose-to-nose with an interviewer. Then he stepped back.

“He’s like this on guys (up close). I used to be like this (a few steps back). But I could do the same thing from here (back) that I could do from here (close) because they relax a little more when you’re not all over them,” Frazier said with indisputable logic. “So now they get careless. That’s usually when I make my steals.”

It’s all stuff Frazier would explain to Ntilikina, who already has impressed with the steals. He had six against the Cavs and after the Utah game, only All-Star Paul George of the Thunder (2.36) averaged more while George’s teammate, MVP Russell Westbrook, also was at 2.00 per game.

“From what I’ve heard, he hungers for knowledge,” Frazier said. “He wants to be the best and that’s half the battle right there.”

Ntilikina has done his homework. He has tried to learn all about the guy whose No. 10 jersey hangs from the Garden rafters.

“I’ve been watching videos and of course when I came here, people talked to me about his history here,” Ntilikina said. “So I know he is a big part of the history.

“I even heard some comparisons of my game,” Ntilikina said, allowing a huge smile to fastbreak across his face. “I missed the first couple games [with injury]. He missed games and came back at the [sixth] game. He did a lot of great things. His jersey is hanging above. He is the greatest defensive point guard to play here.”

So why not learn from the best?