Frank Ntilikina will have to earn his way back into Coach Thibodeau’s rotations after a sprained left knee set him back for over three weeks.
Frank was available off the bench against the Portland Trailblazers on Sunday for the first time since Dec. 29 after spraining his right knee against the Cavaliers. “Right now we have a rotation, but things can change,” Coach Thibodeau said after Monday’s practice in Utah.
Before the Blazers game Coach Thibs said that Frank’s recovery has been a process, including getting him back in shape.
“There was a progression to his comeback,” Thibodeau said. “He’s gotten some contact on this trip. We’ve had an opportunity to get some practices in. Even in situations in which we can get work in three-on-three with some of the guys that haven’t played big minutes, we try to take advantage of that as well. So he has gotten some contact, but conditioning-wise, probably not quite ready yet.”
Frank was finding his groove before the knee injury, including draining 4 three pointers in the Knicks’ impressive win against the Bucks. He admitted his inability to stay on the floor is frustrating.
“It is, it is [frustrating],” Ntilikina said after Monday’s practice. “Especially when you find a good rhythm, you’re on the court, you’re helping your team, you’re helping your teammates. I was feeling good, we were feeling good as a team. Me being on the side didn’t stop the team from getting better, but to me it is a little frustrating.”
“Now what I had to do, I did. I was doing my best job to get back on the court, get back healthy. Right now that is the case, so I’m really happy.”
Etching His Role
The Frank hive was buzzing when the Knicks hired coach Thibs, who is praised as a great defensive mind. Thibs said Frank would be used situationally before Sunday’s loss to the Blazers. It seems Damian Lillard slicing up the Knicks’ defense for 39 points wasn’t enough of a situation to get Frank’s defense in there.
There’s still plenty of room in this rotation for an elite perimeter defender, but time is running out. After the Knicks let the contract extension deadline come and go without re-signing Frank, he is left on the last year of his contract as a Knick with an uncertain future. If he wants to stay in New York, Frank will have to prove his worth when Thibs does decide to throw him out there.
Pile on top of that steady minutes for Elfrid Payton and the emergence of rookie Immanuel Quickley, and it makes you wonder whether Frank could find some minutes as a wing defender. Whenever coach Thibs decides to throw Frank in there, though, he plans to be ready for it.
“First, if I play hard on the court, I can give a lot to my team,’’ Ntilikina said. “On both ends, especially the defensive end. [Thibs] knows I’m pretty versatile, I can guard a lot of positions. He is going to ask me what he asks everybody: Go on that court and give 100 percent and be hungry and just be ready to take the challenge, grow everyday. So I’m ready for it.’’
Franks been searching for 4 years Dave.