David Fizdale’s commitment to the Knicks’ youth movement is a good thing for Frank Ntilikina, not so much for Enes Kanter.
In the aftermath of the Knicks’ 127-109 loss to the Thunder on Monday afternoon at the Garden, one player was speaking optimistically about the remaining part of the season, while another was wondering about his future.
This clash in attitude is inevitable on a team in transition and could lead to internal division as the Knicks try to negotiate the final months of their season.
“Right now, we have to grow these kids and to see who is moving forward with us,” Fizdale said after the Knicks lost their 10th straight game at home.
Kanter got in Monday’s Martin Luther King Day game only because starting center Luke Kornet sprained his ankle seven minutes into the first quarter. Otherwise, the 23-year-old from Vanderbilt would have shared duties in the post with Mitchell Robinson, the 20-year-old rookie. Kanter, 26, said he was “not happy” after Fizdale told him Sunday he was likely out of the rotation.
The news is better for Ntilikina, the eighth-overall pick in the 2017 draft. Fizdale said the 20-year-old from France would remain the backup to starter Emmanuel Mudiay for “the next few weeks” to see how he responds.
“We’re thinking big picture,” Fizdale said of the rotation. “Who’s a winner? Who’s going to be a guy that can help us win going into the future? That’s how we’re looking at Frank.”
Ntilikina had a decent game with nine points and five assists in 30 minutes of action. But he was just 4-of-12 from the field and 1-of-3 from 3-point range. His minutes have been inconsistent this year, starting some games and enduring several in which he didn’t play at all as Fizdale searched elsewhere for a productive guard combination. Now Ntilikina is working with the second unit alongside Allonzo Trier.
“Coach has experience,” Ntilikina said. “We trust him doing the best to build our team. If he thinks that’s the best role for me, let’s do it. I respect his choice, and I’m going to play hard every time he puts me on the court.”
Monday’s game offered a microcosm of the Knicks’ season. They had their one terrible quarter — this time the first, when they were outscored 34-16 — and their rotation was more about the future than trying to beat the Thunder.
Still, it was a beneficial outing for Ntilikina, who spent much of his time guarding Russell Westbrook and even Paul George. The two OKC stars combined for 48 points, but Ntilikina had his moments on the defensive end.
Near the end of the first half, Westbrook was making every move possible down low, trying to create space for a shot, but Ntilikina stood his ground and made his long arms difficult to shoot over, forcing a miss. His greatest value to the Knicks will always be as a defensive stopper, and the Knicks are hoping that will be enough to make him a part of their future.
“A lot of people want him to be this scorer or playmaker and all that stuff, but ultimately, to win, you needs guys that can do all the other little stuff,” Fizdale said. “I think that is where he is. That’s why I felt comfortable moving him to different positions because he’s a guy who can handle it.”
Ntilikina said his confidence isn’t shaken by the lofty expectations created by his high draft pick and the way he has been utilized during his short career with the Knicks.
“I know what my ceiling is,” he said. “I know where I can go by the end of my career. I know what I can do and what is required to get there. It’s not going to be easy to get there. But I’m still confident in my ability and what I can do in the future.”
For the Knicks, it’s all about the future, whether they like it or not.