Frank Ntilikina
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New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale still has belief in the potential of young guard and 2017 draft pick Frank Ntilikina.

The New York Knicks haven’t had much success in the NBA Draft in recent years. Their picks, needless to say, don’t usually stick around for a second cup of coffee. Remember Cleanthony Early? Remember Tim Hardaway Jr.? The latter did end up coming back and spent time in Madison Square Garden from 2017-19, but you get my point. None of the recent-memory picks have really remained to be in the future plans.

Of those picks, one that could be on his way to becoming a true disappointment is Frank Ntilikina. Drafted No. 8 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, the 21-year-old French point guard hasn’t lived up to his potential just yet. He shot 33.7% last year from the field along with 28.7% from behind the arc. Ntilikina did, however, shoot 43.6% from the field and 33.3% from behind the arc for Team France in the FIBA World Cup this Summer.

That being said, head coach David Fizdale believes Ntilikina can still unlock his full potential.

“I think that’s what he needed. He needed to feel that success,” Fizdale said this week when discussing Ntilikina’s success for Team France, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. “I studied the heck out of him. And it’s really what I’ve always said about him. He can be on the ball. He can be off the ball. He can guard multiple guys on the court.

Ntilikina is entering his third year with the Knicks. If that full potential can indeed be found, it would benefit the squad in numerous ways. They need all the help they can receive, especially after suffering a franchise-worst 17-65 record last season.

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Ryan Honey is a staff writer and host of the Wide Right Podcast.