Former New York Knick guard Frank Ntilikina is receiving interest from Italian professional basketball club Virtus Bologna, according to basketnews.com.
The clubs head coach, Sergio Scariolo, relayed the teams’ interest in Ntilikina with Italian-American guard Nico Mannion set to miss multiple weeks.
“Mannion won’t be there at the start of the championship and so we need a player to avoid ‘squeezing’ the others,” Scariolo said on Friday per multiple reports. “We are looking on the market for an element to be included, a point guard who can also remain in the future. Because of that we focus on young people who can give something important, rather than a veteran addition.”
Ntilikina is one of many point guard targets on the Italian club’s list. He is likely not their first priority, according to Gazzetta dello Sport and La Repubblica.
Guard or Wing?
Ntilikina has struggled to solidify a role in New York. He averaged only 5.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 19.5 minutes per game through four seasons there. He averaged 2.7 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 33 games last season with the Knicks. Questions still linger about his natural position, with some arguing Ntilikina would be best utilized as a versatile wing rather than guard.
We saw glimpses of Ntilikina’s potential as a point guard in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, coming off the bench for France throughout their silver medal run. He averaged only 2.0 points and 1.8 assists through four games that counted though. His best performances came in exhibitions.
Virtus’ interest in Ntilikina as a Mannion replacement may signal that some professional clubs still view him as a guard. Whether NBA teams feel the same remains to be seen.
Do you think Ntilikina can still solidify a role in the NBA? What NBA team do you think should give Frank a chance, and at what position? Let us know in the comments below!
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