Frank Ntilikina Biography, Age, Height, Salary, NBA, Season Stats, Highlight, Draftexpress

Frank Ntilikina Biography

Frank Bryan Ntilikina was born 28 July 1998, he is a French-Rwandan professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Knicks as the eighth overall pick during the 2017 NBA draft. Ntilikina was born in Belgium and grew up in the French city of Strasbourg. Ntilikina stands 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) tall and plays both point guard and shooting guard positions.

Frank Ntilikina Age

Ntilikina was born onJuly 28, 1998 (age 19 as of 2018) in Ixelles, Belgium on July 28, 1998 to Rwandan parents. At age three, he moved to Strasbourg, France. He began his youth club career at the age of five, playing for St-Joseph Strasbourg, before making the move to Strasbourg IG’s youth academy when he was 15.

Ntilikina was invited to participate in the Jordan Brand Classic International Game in April 2014, tallying six points, three rebounds and one assist in 23 minutes off the bench, and helped SIG to a French Youth League Championship title in the 2014–15 season.

In February 2016, he attended the “Basketball Without Borders Global Camp” in Toronto, Canada, during the NBA All-Star Weekend.

Frank Ntilikina Height

6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)

Frank Ntilikina Salary

$3,501,120

Frank Ntilikina NBA

SIG Strasbourg (2015–2017)

In December 2015, Ntilikina signed a professional contract with SIG Strasbourg until June 30, 2019. He had made his debut at the professional level even before the deal, seeing 15 minutes of action on April 4, 2015, in a French LNB Pro A 2014–15 season contest against Boulogne-sur-Mer.

On October 15, 2015, Ntilikina logged his first EuroLeague minutes, scoring one point in 12 minutes and 16 seconds of play against KK Crvena Zvezda.He saw the court in 32 contests during the 2015–16 Pro A season, scoring 1.3 points per game, and he was named the league’s Best Young Player.

In the 2016–17 season, Ntilikina became a key part of the Strasbourg team, as he appeared in 45 games for the team while averaging 19.3 minutes per game. His successful campaign led Ntilikina to winning his second straight Pro A Best Young Player award.

New York Knicks (2017–present)

On July 5, 2017, Ntilikina signed with the Knicks. He was the second youngest active player in the NBA during his rookie year behind Ike Anigbogu. Ntilikina made his NBA debut on October 19, 2017, in a blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ntilikina scored his first points on October 28 against the Brooklyn Nets in a 107–86 blowout win.

Ntilikina recorded 9 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal during the Knicks’ home opener. On January 15, 2018 Ntilikina recorded his first double double with 10 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal in a win against the Brooklyn Nets (119-104). On January 24, 2018, Ntilikina was selected to represent Team World for the Rising Stars Challenge during the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend.

National team career

Ntilikina averaged 7.4 points, 2.0 assists, 1.6 rebounds, and one steal per game, en route to winning the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship with the Under-16 French Junior National Team.

He was spectacular in helping France’s Under-18 national team win the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, scoring 31 points, including 7-for-10 from three-point range, in the championship game against the Under-18 Lithuanian team. He averaged 15.2 points, 4.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.2 steals a game in the tournament, draining 50 percent of his field goal attempts, including 58.6 percent of his shots from long distance, en route to Most Valuable Player honors.

Ntilikina dished out a game-high eight assists, to go along with 13 points and four rebounds, at the FIBA European Under-18 All-Star Game, in September 2015.

Frank Ntilikina Wingspan

Potential 2017 NBA draft lottery pick Frank Ntilikina has perhaps the longest wingspan record for his position among all active players.

Ntilikina, who stands 6-foot-5, is known for a long wingspan. But if the recent report his wingspan measured at 7-foot-1 is accurate, this mark is actually a historically impressive measurement from fingertip to fingertip. This will allow him to play taller at the next level.

Told by exec scouting Ntilikina his wingspan is 7'1". Would make him 10 inches longer than Dennis Smith, 7 longer than Fox.

— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) June 7, 2017

Ntilikina is working to use his wingspan to his advantage. Draft Express indicates the average wingspan of a point guard is around nine inches shorter than what Ntilikina recorded. In fact, the average NBA center has a wingspan of approximately 7-foot-1.

The average arms-to-height ratio for an NBA player is 1.06-to-1. Ntilikina is at 1.10, which is not far from the largest of any All-Star in recent memory: Kawhi Leonard (1.12).

For comparison, his wingspan is greater than what LeBron James, Paul George and Blake Griffin recorded when they entered the league though all are notably taller. A point guard trying to land a rebound when matched up against Ntilikina would be an absolute nightmare.

Frank Ntilikina Draftexpress

Not as well-known among the casual fan as the college guards, Ntilikina is a high-floor prospect who is destined for, at the very least, a long career as a versatile, two-way player with a high IQ and professional approach to the game. With the physical profile of an NBA two guard (6’6 with a 7-foot wingspan and a projectable frame) and a high motor, Ntilikina projects as a three-position defender who can make a spot up three, play off of closeouts, execute the simple pass while on or off the ball, and use his long strides to slither his way to the rim out of pick and roll.

A high character young man by way of Belgium (the son of Rwandan refugees), Ntilikina should be viewed as more of a slow and steady’ prospect who isn’t likely to provide much wow factor out of the gates like a De’Aaron Fox or Dennis Smith might.

While we weren’t able to see his full arsenal of skills during his season with Strasbourg, where he played mostly off the ball, Ntilikina showed what he can do on the ball with a huge 2016 U18 European Championships, yet he’s still a couple years from having a big offensive impact at the NBA level.

Ntilikina plays somewhat of a calculated game, and he’s not all that explosive or shifty with the ball, making it essential that he’s brought along slowly on the offensive end, being used as a defender/secondary ball handler in his NBA minutes, while playing strictly on the ball in the D-League.

Ntilikina is eventually going to be rock solid in almost any situation, because he’s a willing defender with length, possesses a strong feel for the game, has pro experience at the ripe age of 18, and has turned himself into a fairly reliable shooter with time and space.

Where Ntilikina may falter is if he’s thrust into a huge role as a lead guard early on in his career. Slipping’ a bit in the draft may end up benefitting Ntilikina, as he’ll likely end up on a more competitive team where he can play a role, as his point guard polish and shot creation continue to develop.

Landing in Charlotte and learning from Kemba Walker, fellow Frenchmen Nicolas Batum and well-respected head coach Steve Clifford could provide Ntilikina with the basis he needs, especially considering the Hornets strong relationship with its D-League team in Greensboro.

Miami would also be a great place for Ntilikina to grow as his work ethic and approach would be welcomed by Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra, who run arguably the most regimented organization in the NBA.

Playing for one of the top coaches in the NBA and learning from a fellow international guard like Goran Dragic could be a perfect recipe for Ntilikina. Milwaukee is reportedly very high on him as well, but would likely have to move up.

Among the more battle tested prospects in the 1998-born age group that is eligible to declare for the NBA Draft for the first time in 2017, Frank Ntilikina is in the midst of one of the longest seasons of any prospect in Europe. He started the French League season in September, played 14 games in the FIBA Champions League, starred at the FIBA U18 European Championship which was delayed to December, and is still playing in the French League playoff Finals this week.

Averaging 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists over 19 minutes per game on a talented team that features a number creative veteran ball-handlers, including A.J. Slaughter and Paul Lacombe, Ntilikina plays a significant role in his team’s rotation, operating on and off the ball, even if he isn’t much of a focal point in their offense.

After playing mostly at the junior level last season, scouts were able to watch him build a considerable body of work in two of Europe’s more competitive leagues and help the French U18 national team go undefeated in Samsun, Turkey as he earned Most Valuable Player honors averaging 15.2 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.2 steals per game despite suffering from the flu.

Ntilikina’s intrigue at the next level starts with his physical tools. Standing 6’6 with a wingspan eclipsing 7’0, the Belgium-born point guard has tremendous size for either backcourt position, to go along with fluid athleticism. He isn’t overwhelmingly explosive or shifty, but his ability to guard multiple positions gives him some valuable versatility with regards to what types of guards he can be paired with. Past Ntilikina’s physical tools, his development as a jump shooter has also opened up the possibility that he can play comfortably next to a ball-dominant guard, as he has done effectively for most of this season.

Regularly brining the ball up the floor before deferring to the players around him within Strasbourg’s half-court offense, Ntilikina has made a serviceable 40% of his jump shots in the half court, shooting the ball with a somewhat slow release, but far more textbook, reliable mechanics this season, after connecting on a dismal 18% of his attempts last year.

Showing marked improvement as a set shooter in particular, Ntilikina remains streaky, struggling for stretches this season, but also made 43% of his spot up jumpers and a massive 68% of his pull-ups over six games at the U18 European Championship running far more hot than cold over the past year. Ntilikina’s improved shot making is significant, as it helps compensate for his lack of dynamic shot-creating ability.

The 18-year-old is by no means an inept floor general, as he has a strong feel for the game, navigates the pick and roll effectively, uses his size well as a passer, and can get to the rim with changes of speed and long strides to take what the defense gives him.

The challenge for Ntilikina at this stage is that he isn’t particularly explosive with the ball, has a high handle, kills his dribble unnecessarily under duress, makes some occasional careless mistakes, and can’t always turn the corner against more physically gifted defenders.

Combine those strengths and weaknesses as a lead guard with Ntilkina’s defensive versatility and shooting, and he seems like an ideal candidate to play next to a ball-dominant scorer at either the one, two, or three, which can’t be said for many young point guard prospects.

Though Ntilikina has some shortcomings as a slasher, shooting an average 52% finishing around the rim in the half court, there is still plenty of room for optimism regarding his offensive abilities. A heady player who won’t turn 19 until a month after the draft, Ntilkina does not often try to do too much, and could grow into a more dangerous weapon off the dribble as his pull-up jumper and frame continue to improve.

The massive leap he took as a perimeter shooter is a testament to his work ethic and bodes well for his future, as his ability to make incremental improvements offensively could help him develop into a terrific two-way role-player given what he already brings on the defensive end.

Among the top on-ball defenders in this draft, Ntilkina is arguably the most polished point guard in this class on that end of the floor, one of the reasons he was able to play such a significant role at the professional level while still figuring things out offensively.

GREENBURGH, NY – AUGUST 11: Frank Ntilikina of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Often picking up more experienced import guards full court, Ntilikina is an intelligent, hard-working defender who gets low, slides his feet, and does a great job cutting off penetration using his anticipation. His length allows him to be a factor in the passing lanes while contesting shots on the perimeter and interior, and even if he needs to get stronger, he figures to be, at the very least, a solid system defender at the next level.

A fairly mature player who been scouted extensively aftera solid showing at the FIBA U16 European Championship all the way back in 2014, it is easy to forget the Ntilikina ranks as the second youngest player projected to get drafted (after Ike Anibogu). His age has shown on occasion in the playoffs, as Ntilikina appears somewhat nervous at times, but the fact that he’s playing a key role in games like these as an 18-year old is incredibly noteworthy.

A potential lottery pick in perhaps the most point guard-heavy draft in NBA history, Frank Ntilkina is among the more unique players in that talented group as his best long-term fit could just as easily be on the wing alongside the right teammates. Possessing immense role-player potential and an excellent demeanor off the floor, Ntilikina is a very promising two-way player who could grow into a valuable piece for a contender down the road.

Strengths:

-Has excellent size for a point guard at 6’5, to go along with a nice frame and a very long wingspan (possibly close to 7-feet).
-Plays with terrific pace. Never looks rushed. Has the ball on a string. Knows when to speed up and when to slow down. Has outstanding potential on the pick and roll.
-Terrific passer with exquisite court vision. Distributes in many different ways. Constantly looking to find open man. Extremely unselfish.
-Seems to be making progress with his outside shot. Knocked down jumpers all camp long, particularly shooting off the dribble. Shooting 85% from the free throw line this season, which is encouraging.
-Multi-positional defender. Has excellent tools to lock down either guard spot with size and length, but also puts great pride in his work on this end of the floor. Can put strong pressure on the ball. Does a great job of staying in front.
-Gets blocks, steals and rebounds with his physical tools and feel for the game
-Terrific intangibles and family background. Looks like a coach’s dream.

Weaknesses:

-Career 72/231 (31%) 3-point shooter. Showed the ability to throw the ball in the basket, but still does not have ideal mechanics and has struggled in particular in French junior league play this season (16/66 3P in 14 games).
-Unselfish to a fault at times. Overpasses when it would be in his team’s best interest for him to simply go and score. Spent too much time trying to get his lesser-talented teammates involved, which may have contributed to relegating his BWB team to the loser’s bracket.
-Doesn’t get to the free throw line at a great rate, partially due to lack of aggressiveness and partially due to lack of strength.
-Still filling out physically like most 17-year olds. Lack of strength has hampered him from seeing too many minutes at pro level thus far.

Outlook: Incredibly mature 17-year old. Carries himself like a pro. Arguably the top prospect at the entire camp in terms of physical tools, current production and long-term upside. Continues to improve every time we see him. Seeing a handful of minutes at the highest levels of European basketball with Strasbourg as a third string PG.