Frank Ntilikina

[ALL HAIL]

How is Lonzo Ball any better than this guy? They seem, to me, to be very, very similar.

I don't think he has anywhere near the playmaking ability that Ball has.

Is Ball's playmaking four or five draft slots better than Ntilikina's though?

Factor in Ntilikina's superior defense and jump shot, and the question remains the same:

How is Lonzo Ball better than this guy?

I know their polar opposites when it comes to hype, but they've got very similar strengths and weaknesses.

I'm just trying to figure out why one is looking at number one while the other is hov ring around ten.

And for the record, you severely underrate Ntilikina's playmaking ability.

[MotownMadness]

How is Lonzo Ball any better than this guy? They seem, to me, to be very, very similar.

I don't think he has anywhere near the playmaking ability that Ball has.

Is Ball's playmaking four or five draft slots better than Ntilikina's though?

Factor in Ntilikina's superior defense and jump shot, and the question remains the same:

How is Lonzo Ball better than this guy?

I know their polar opposites when it comes to hype, but they've got very similar strengths and weaknesses.

I'm just trying to figure out why one is looking at number one while the other is hov ring around ten.

And for the record, you severely underrate Ntilikina's playmaking ability.

You asked what the big difference is between the two and that's what it is. I really like Ntilikina though and would love if he drops out of the top 10. I don't think I underate Ntilikinas playmaking but Lonzo is on another level as far as running a offense at the moment.

[ALL HAIL]

I don't think he has anywhere near the playmaking ability that Ball has.

Is Ball's playmaking four or five draft slots better than Ntilikina's though?

Factor in Ntilikina's superior defense and jump shot, and the question remains the same:

How is Lonzo Ball better than this guy?

I know their polar opposites when it comes to hype, but they've got very similar strengths and weaknesses.

I'm just trying to figure out why one is looking at number one while the other is hov ring around ten.

And for the record, you severely underrate Ntilikina's playmaking ability.

You asked what the big difference is between the two and that's what it is. I really like Ntilikina though and would love if he drops out of the top 10. I don't think I underate Ntilikinas playmaking but Lonzo is on another level as far as running a offense at the moment.

First off, Ball's passing, to me, is overrated. I've heard people say he's the best passer they've seen in decades when, in reality, Rubio was much better than him at nineteen.

Secondly, I'm just trying to figure why Ball is rated so high and Ntilikina isn't, when Ntilikina, to me, looks to be equal if not better.

I can't imagine Ntilikina not moving up the boards come June. Ball will fall.

[MotownMadness]

Is Ball's playmaking four or five draft slots better than Ntilikina's though?

Factor in Ntilikina's superior defense and jump shot, and the question remains the same:

How is Lonzo Ball better than this guy?

I know their polar opposites when it comes to hype, but they've got very similar strengths and weaknesses.

I'm just trying to figure out why one is looking at number one while the other is hov ring around ten.

And for the record, you severely underrate Ntilikina's playmaking ability.

You asked what the big difference is between the two and that's what it is. I really like Ntilikina though and would love if he drops out of the top 10. I don't think I underate Ntilikinas playmaking but Lonzo is on another level as far as running a offense at the moment.

First off, Ball's passing, to me, is overrated. I've heard people say he's the best passer they've seen in decades when, in reality, Rubio was much better than him at nineteen.

Secondly, I'm just trying to figure why Ball is rated so high and Ntilikina isn't, when Ntilikina, to me, looks to be equal if not better.

I can't imagine Ntilikina not moving up the boards come June. Ball will fall.

That's your opinion but he looks like a damn good floor general to me at such a young age. It's not just passing but more how comfortable and effective Ball is at controlling and running a offense.

[ALL HAIL]

You asked what the big difference is between the two and that's what it is. I really like Ntilikina though and would love if he drops out of the top 10. I don't think I underate Ntilikinas playmaking but Lonzo is on another level as far as running a offense at the moment.

First off, Ball's passing, to me, is overrated. I've heard people say he's the best passer they've seen in decades when, in reality, Rubio was much better than him at nineteen.

Secondly, I'm just trying to figure why Ball is rated so high and Ntilikina isn't, when Ntilikina, to me, looks to be equal if not better.

I can't imagine Ntilikina not moving up the boards come June. Ball will fall.

That's your opinion but he looks like a damn good floor general to me at such a young age. It's not just passing but more how comfortable and effective Ball is at controlling and running a offense.

He is a damn good floor general, no doubt.

It's ironic because the same players his dad is criticizing are the same type of players he needs to be successful: Shooters.

Ball (and his brothers) are "D'Antoniing" all of us with severely inflated stat lines.

I wonder how many assists Dennis Smith Jr. or Ntilikina would average at a Chino Hills/UCLA pace.

I've watched hours and hours of tape on Ball and I only see a handful of passes that really take my breath away. He's good as a playmaker but just not as good as the world is making it seem.

The system, much like D'Antoni's in the pros, makes him look much better than he actually is.

[The-Power]

Honestly, the more I seen Frank play, the more I think he needs to stay in Europe for at least a year or two. He has all the skills he needs to be successful in the NBA, but he lacks confidence.

This is exactly why he has to come over. His role in Europe is not going to help much - neither in terms of developing playmaking habits nor in developing confidence in his on-ball abilities. In the NBA I suspect his development curve is going to be steeper and it only makes sense for him to take the chance and try it in the NBA; certainly as long as he's projected to be a mid-first pick at worst.

[RipCity71252]

Was down on Frank early on, but when I started viewing him as a versatile defender + ball handling 2 versus a primary creator, things started to click for me with him.

[reanimator]

Both Ball and Ntilikina can play on/off ball and should offer tons of offensive/defensive versatility.

Frank has better tools to develop into a PnR threat/scorer long-term with solid footwork on his pull up and some creativity as a handler, but Ball's presence encourages GREAT ball movement and offensive efficiency which is invaluable. You can say DSJ or Fultz would put up crazy assist numbers at UCLA or Chino Hills but Ball valued possessions in ways that allowed his team to maximize itself offensively.

[franckyvinvin12]

Honestly, the more I seen Frank play, the more I think he needs to stay in Europe for at least a year or two. He has all the skills he needs to be successful in the NBA, but he lacks confidence.

This is exactly why he has to come over. His role in Europe is not going to help much - neither in terms of developing playmaking habits nor in developing confidence in his on-ball abilities. In the NBA I suspect his development curve is going to be steeper and it only makes sense for him to take the chance and try it in the NBA; certainly as long as he's projected to be a mid-first pick at worst.

Then he needs to be able to play through mistakes, maybe some games in the D-League could also help him play with confidence. This could be said with a lot of players, but the situation he lands him will be really important. If he lands in a situation similar to what Phoenix has been for two years, it could be great.

[LEVI17]

Watching his U18 games, am I crazy for seeing shades of Ginobili?

Ginobili is white. I don't see it.

Ginobili with defense would be awesome though

[UcanUwill]

4.8 ppg. 1 apg. in French league. You can't overlook his stats. Ball obviously doesn't play against men, but at least with Ball we don't have an evidence that he would struggle against them. I think thats the biggest difference between the two from the stock value point of view. College is always better to inflate your stock, if Domantas Sabonis stayed in Spain for example, i guarantee you he would never have jumped into lottery like he did. Not saying that Ball stock is all just inflated air, he is obviously very good, I am just saying. If you want to compete with college toppers, you have to do better than 4.8 points per game.

[The-Power]

4.8 ppg. 1 apg. in French league. You can't overlook his stats. Ball obviously doesn't play against men, but at least with Ball we don't have an evidence that he would struggle against them.

We don't have that evidence for Ntilikina either. All we know is that he is very efficient and only has a small role on his team. We can discuss about how he would handle a bigger role - and being skeptical is reasonable - but he's not struggling based on the numbers (or the tape I watched on him).

[UcanUwill]

4.8 ppg. 1 apg. in French league. You can't overlook his stats. Ball obviously doesn't play against men, but at least with Ball we don't have an evidence that he would struggle against them.

We don't have that evidence for Ntilikina either. All we know is that he is very efficient and only has a small role on his team. We can discuss about how he would handle a bigger role - and being skeptical is reasonable - but he's not struggling based on the numbers (or the tape I watched on him).

Fact he has this very small role (on not that elite of the team) is still worrysome tho.

[The-Power]

4.8 ppg. 1 apg. in French league. You can't overlook his stats. Ball obviously doesn't play against men, but at least with Ball we don't have an evidence that he would struggle against them.

We don't have that evidence for Ntilikina either. All we know is that he is very efficient and only has a small role on his team. We can discuss about how he would handle a bigger role - and being skeptical is reasonable - but he's not struggling based on the numbers (or the tape I watched on him).

Fact he has this very small role (on not that elite of the team) is still worrysome tho.

Yes, not arguing that. But given some precedents and the tendency that teams in Europe, especially those that are clearly above average in their respective leagues, are less enthusiastic about developing teenagers on the first team compared to to lower-tier NBA teams I'm usually more worried about skills and potential than role and current production.

[Johnny Firpo]

I want this guy at 8th for my Mavs. He is like Roddy on steroids.

[Ferulci]

4.8 ppg. 1 apg. in French league. You can't overlook his stats. If you want to compete with college toppers, you have to do better than 4.8 points per game.

Rudy Gobert was averaging 4,7 points and 3,7 rebounds in the french league at the same age. I heard he's doing fine in the NBA. His team is trying to win a title and they are coached by French national team coach. So the fact Frank is able to get a rotation spot is an achievement itself.

[Dr Positivity]

4.8 ppg. 1 apg. in French league. You can't overlook his stats. If you want to compete with college toppers, you have to do better than 4.8 points per game.

Rudy Gobert was averaging 4,7 points and 3,7 rebounds in the french league at the same age. I heard he's doing fine in the NBA. His team is trying to win a title and they are coached by French national team coach. So the fact Frank is able to get a rotation spot is an achievement itself.

Per game stats don't really matter... Per 40 minutes he was already pretty Gobert-like with 12.6 pts, 10.8 reb, 3.8 blks, .76 TS% that year. Frank is 11.8 pts, 4.8 reb, 2.9 ast, .613 TS. He is having a great season shooting from 3 (46%) but on a small sample, low FT (in a another very small sample) says it could be a fluke

[Dr Positivity]

How is Lonzo Ball any better than this guy? They seem, to me, to be very, very similar.

The passing gap is more than just a little. Frank is a shooting guard on his team right now, I have yet to be convinced that he's not a shooting guard in the NBA. His body, skillset and stats (low Ast%) point towards SG imo. So if that ends up being true to be a star you're hoping for a player more like Klay or Beal.

[ALL HAIL]

How is Lonzo Ball any better than this guy? They seem, to me, to be very, very similar.

The passing gap is more than just a little. Frank is a shooting guard on his team right now, I have yet to be convinced that he's not a shooting guard in the NBA. His body, skillset and stats (low Ast%) point towards SG imo. So if that ends up being true to be a star you're hoping for a player more like Klay or Beal.

He can play SG, like he does now, or he can play PG, like he has a history of playing.

You are understating Ntilikina's passing and overstating Ball's. Go watch an old game of his at PG. His passing is a strength, along with his steadiness and IQ.

Except he can shoot well going either direction, get up in your ass defensively, and is super duper long to boot.

They have similar weaknesses as well like penetrating and offensive passivity, but their biggest differences, and the reasons one is rated higher, lie in multiple high octane offenses and the hype machine working on overdrive.

[coutournant]

He showed some leadership since a few game.
He is playing Point-Guard since this last month.
His low assist rate is due to the fact his team relies a lot on ball circulation and movement, the passing game, and there's a lot of great passers in his team. They share the assists. Strasbourg is the best passing team in Pro A and has been very impressive lately