Ntilikina looked unimpressive again Saturday — the points immaterial because it is still Summer League after all — and as placid as he had been as a rookie. But on Sunday night, Ntilikina put together a performance that evinced clues that his game has begun to expand.
The biggest impediment to Ntilikina’s progression remains his mindset. It is a work in progress. Over the course of his rookie year, he would note that the difference between playing in France and the NBA was that in the NBA players went off instincts and athleticism rather than prioritizing the system.
“It’s going to be a process with him of constantly emphasizing aggression and always be in go mode and don’t be concerned as much about taking care of everybody,” new coach David Fizdale said. “But that his aggression will draw defenders to help him take care of everybody. He’s such an unselfish kid. He wants to please everyone.”
Sunday, Ntilikina seemed to give him license to attack. He took 14 shots in 26 minutes (he averaged 10.6 shot attempts per 36 minutes as a rookie) and scored 17 points. He looked for his shot and he unveiled a new pet shot that looks like it could be a useful go-to for him.
It was intentional. Ntilikina chose to be a floor leader in the Summer League debut, focusing on running the offense and getting everyone comfortable. Against the Jazz, he decided that he should “be more aggressive and see what happens.”
The most obvious difference was a turnaround jump shot he used with success. On one play in the second quarter, Ntilikina took the ball from inside the 3-point line, put his back on 6-2 Trey Lewis just outside the paint and then spun into the lane for the turnaround jumper.
During another second-quarter possession, Ntilikina dribbled in from the perimeter, then took 6-4 Naz Mitrou-Long into the mid-post and backed him in until he spun baseline for another jumper.
It was surprising because Ntilikina rarely looked to score as a rookie and he hardly ever went into the post. He had just six possessions in the post in 2017-18, according to Synergy Sports.
To give himself easier paths to buckets, he’s trying to add moves he can rely on, especially against smaller defenders. At 6-6, with a 7-foot wingspan, Ntilikina could face a good number of those.
“That’s what this is about, having moves in that you have in your game that you have confidence in to just go and score or go and open things for your teammates,” he said. “That move seems to work right now and with my size it’s going to work even more against little guards so I need to take advantage of it.”
Fizdale has been harping on Ntilikina to be more assertive. They’ve watched film together, with the coach pointing out moments when Ntilikina could have pressed on into the paint rather than stop his dribble or pass the ball away.
“That’s just his nature,” Fizdale said. “I showed him a little thing and he goes, ‘I’m just giving up the ball for no reason.’ I’m like, “I’m just going to keep showing it to you.’ Over reps and time, habits will break. New habits will form.”
Ntilikina has taken the instruction to mind. One game isn’t declarative of the player he will become but it can offer hints if he can become consistent.
He won’t turn 20 until later this month, and while he struggled as a rookie, that must also be put in context. There have only been 27 teenaged guards in NBA history, according to Basketball Reference. Ntilikina ranked second-to-last in win shares, but 12th in 3-point percentage (31.8%) and 16th in effective field goal percentage.
With Ntilikina searching for efficiency, there are signs that improvement could still be on its way. He is a good enough defender that even becoming a league-average offensive player could make him incredibly effective.
For now, he is enjoying Fizdale’s push for him to be more aggressive,
“It’s kind of different,” he said. “It helped me also because I’m a player who thinks a lot on the court, who thinks about running the team, thinks about getting the ball to the players, and sometimes not being aggressive for myself. And also being aggressive to open up more for my teammates. It helps me doing that and seeing the game another way. Getting my mind more free on the court. He tells now I have more confidence and I see it.”
there's something to be said for all that. It's still weird realizing how many of these guys coming into the league are younger than me so hearing dude just likes video games and ball is cool. Sounds like me in the 6th grade. Don't let these city lights fukk with you Kev.
