Kristaps Porzingis won’t be the only New York Knick at NBA All-Star weekend as Frank Ntilikina has been selected for the Rising Stars Challenge.
One day after Kristaps Porzingis was named an All-Star, New York Knicks rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina became part of the NBA All-Star festivities.
According to Ian Begley of ESPN, Ntilikina will play for the World Team in the Rising Stars game during All-Star weekend in Los Angeles. The Rising Stars game is a game that has the best first and second-year players in the NBA play each other. The game features the best American players going up against the best international players.
Knicks rookie Frank Ntilikina will play for the World Team in the Rising Stars Game during All-Star Weekend.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 24, 2018
The French point guard becomes the 12th Knicks player to be selected for the Rising Stars Game. Porzingis was the last Knicks player to be selected for the event, participating in both 2016 and 2017. Other one-time Knicks who have appeared include John Wallace (1997), Landry Fields (twice, 2011 and 2012), Tim Hardaway Jr. (2014) and Willy Hernangomez (2017).
Frank Ntilikina becomes the 12th Knicks player selected to the Rising Stars Challenge. pic.twitter.com/awAtTlb6Dp
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) January 24, 2018
“I was a little in between,” Ntilikina told Steve Popper of NorthJersey.com. “I mean, today to be selected in this game is a blessing for me. It’s a huge thing for me, giving me a lot of objective and motivation, being part of the best rookies. It’s just great and gives me a lot of motivation to work even harder.”
He added, “First of all the All-Star Weekend was something I was always watching when I was playing in France since I’m a kid. Just being part of it it’s going to be great and I’m thankful for it.”
This season the Knicks rookie is averaging 5.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. Among first-year players, only Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers is averaging more steals than Ntilikina.
Congrats on being selected for the Rising Stars Challenge, Frank. Now maybe next year you will be an All-Star.
