There is no shortage of point guards in the 2017 NBA Draft. Everyone knows about the marquee names in Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Dennis Smith Jr, and Malik Monk, but there is one more that can add his name to the prestigious list, Frank Ntilikina.
Ntilikina isn’t a name that casual fans are quite familiar with. In fact, most of the dedicated NBA followers know little about the 6’5 French point guard, but he’s arguably better than any prospect in the 2017 NBA Draft.
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His name has been at the top of NBA Draft boards since 2015, where he showcased his talents at the Jordan Brand Classic. Since that point, Ntilikina has been a favorite amongst NBA scouts. Ntilikina has taken a similar path to current Utah Jazz point guard, Dante Exum, who, as an obscure talent beforehand, really blew up at these junior tournaments.
In an age where YouTube is king, there is very little to come by in regards to Frank Ntilikina. He’s the 2017 NBA Draft “International Man of Mystery.”
Over the last few NBA Draft’s, we’ve seen an abundance of these players go with lottery selections. Names such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kristaps Porzingis, Dragan Bender, and the aforementioned Dante Exum, have had relatively modest careers overseas, but enough intrigue to make them worthy of a top pick.
It’s unclear how Ntilikina will stack up against the top-tier point guard class of 2017. We do know that he was the MVP of the FIBA U-18 European Championships, averaging 15.2 points and 4.5 assists.
With his 6’5 frame, many NBA scouts are enamored with his size, this includes a 7-foot wingspan. That’s enough to get anyone talking, especially NBA GM’s who are looking for a dominant point guard.
How will the career of Frank Ntilikina play out? Is he more likely to follow the success of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kristaps Porzingis or the disappointment of Dante Exum?
Truthfully, nobody knows the answer to the above question. However, one team is going to take the gamble, and at one point hope that Ntilikina is the answer to their point guard problems. I guess the question becomes, ” How early does Frank Ntilikina get selected at the 2017 NBA Draft?”
Follow Daniel James Gentile on twitter @dgentleman9288