Future Watch: Frank Ntilikina Rookie Basketball Cards, KnicksFuture Watch: Frank Ntilikina Rookie Basketball Cards, Knicks – Sports fans in New York have it good, mostly. One of their NFL teams has enjoyed recent Super Bowl success. The Yankees are the most storied franchise in the MLB. The Rangers are a consistent threat to make the Stanley Cup finals. Sure, the Mets, Jets and Islanders are on a second tier, but they shouldn’t be considered a laughingstock. That honor goes to the New York Knicks. You have to go all the way back to the mid-to-late 1990s to find a run of success with the team.

In 2013, Phil Jackson was brought in to change the direction of the flailing franchise as President of Basketball Operations. Most thought he would be able to steer the Knicks in the right direction with smart roster and coaching decisions. Unfortunately, the team was mediocre at best under Jackson’s watch, and he left the team during the 2017 offseason. Many fans in New York will look back on Jackson’s tenure with the team ultimately as a failure. However, he did add two important long-term pieces to the roster with forward Kristaps Porzingis in 2015, and guard Frank Ntilikina in 2017. Drafting Ntilikina 8th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft was Phil Jackson’s final act prior to leaving the Knicks.

Born in Belgium in 1998 to Rwandan refugees, Ntilikina moved to France at age three. Frank developed a love for basketball at a VERY young age, playing for St-Joseph Strasbourg in Strasbourg, France at age five. At 15-years-old, he would play for Strasbourg IG’s youth academy. Ntilikina has been on the radar of scouts for many years. He played in the Jordan Brand Classic International Game in April 2014 at the age of 16. In that game, he scored six points, grabbed three boards and dished out one assist in 23 minutes off the bench. In February 2016, he attended the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in Toronto during NBA All-Star Weekend. Scouts praised the 17-year-old Ntkitilina for his maturity and the way he carried himself on the court during the event. It wouldn’t be long before the young Frenchman would hear his name called on draft day.

Ntilikina played professionally in France for SIG Strasbourg from 2015-2017 before declaring for the 2017 NBA Draft at age 19. Leading up to the draft, Ntilikina saw his stock rise among a strong class of point guards. Draft analysts gave him a high-floor career projection, making him a safe pick inside the top-10. Rumors were that Phil Jackson was confident picking him for the Knicks at number eight. Those rumors came true, and Ntilikina became a Knickerbocker when he signed with the team on July 5th, 2017.

This season, Frank is averaging 20.2 minutes per game off the bench in 27 games. He is averaging 5.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and a team leading 1.4 steals. In a 113-109 overtime win over the Lakers on December 12th, Ntilikina scored a career high 13 points to go along with five rebounds, five assists and a steal. The Knicks are currently a playoff team, 8th in the East. Right now, Ntilikina is behind veteran Jarret Jack on the roster. He’ll continue to play off the bench as long as New York is in a playoff race or Jack is healthy, but that’s fine. Ntilikina will benefit from minutes in the 20-25 range as he develops his game for the NBA. Paired with budding superstar Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks fans have an exciting young core to celebrate.

Frank Ntilikina already has some great autographed rookie cards in the market. They can be found in 2017 Panini Contenders Collegiate Draft Picks Basketball. As a top draft pick, collectors can be assured to find NBA licensed rookie cards of Ntilikina in the complete portfolio of 2017-18 Panini NBA basketball card products during the 2017-18 NBA season.

Future Watch: Frank Ntilikina Rookie Basketball Cards, Knicks – Other Resources

Future Watch: Frank Ntilikina Rookie Basketball Cards, Knicks – Image Gallery

Here’s a look at cards featuring Frank Ntilikina in his New York Knicks uniform.

James Gale

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