Frank Ntilikina facts for kids
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Ntilikina with Partizan in 2024
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| No. 3 – Partizan Belgrade | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Point guard / shooting guard | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 July 1998 Ixelles, Belgium |
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| Nationality | French | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2017 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the New York Knicks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2015–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | KLS ABA League EuroLeague |
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| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | SIG Strasbourg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2021 | New York Knicks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2023 | Dallas Mavericks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Charlotte Hornets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Partizan Belgrade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Frank Bryan Ntilikina (born on July 28, 1998) is a French professional basketball player. He plays for Partizan Belgrade in Serbia. He also plays in the Adriatic League and the EuroLeague. Even though he was born in Belgium, Frank grew up in Strasbourg, France. He is 6 feet 4 inches tall and usually plays as a point guard. In 2017, the New York Knicks chose him as the eighth player in the 2017 NBA draft.
Frank's Early Life
Frank Ntilikina was born in Ixelles, Belgium, on July 28, 1998. His parents are from Rwanda. When he was three years old, his family moved to Strasbourg, France. He started playing basketball at age five for a local club. At 15, he joined the youth academy of Strasbourg IG.
In April 2014, Frank was invited to a special basketball game called the "Jordan Brand Classic International Game." He scored six points and helped his youth team, SIG, win a French Youth League Championship in the 2014–15 season. In February 2016, he also attended a "Basketball Without Borders Global Camp" in Toronto, Canada. This camp happened during the NBA All-Star Weekend.
Professional Basketball Journey
Playing for SIG Strasbourg (2015–2017)
In December 2015, Frank Ntilikina signed his first professional contract with SIG Strasbourg. He had already played his first professional game in April 2015. This was in a French LNB Pro A game.
On October 15, 2015, Frank played his first game in the EuroLeague. He scored one point in about 12 minutes of play. During the 2015–16 Pro A season, he played in 32 games. He scored about 1.2 points per game. He was named the league's Best Young Player. In the 2016–17 season, Frank became a very important player for Strasbourg. He played in 45 games and averaged almost 20 minutes per game. He won the Best Young Player award for the second time in a row.
Joining the NBA: 2017 Draft
In April 2017, Frank decided to enter the 2017 NBA draft. He was one of only 10 international players who stayed in the draft that year. Frank was also invited to the "green room" on draft night. This is a special area for players expected to be picked early. The night before the draft, he played in a final game for SIG Strasbourg. Then, he traveled to Brooklyn, New York, for the draft. His team lost the finals that night.
Before the draft, many people thought the Dallas Mavericks would choose Frank. The Mavericks' owner, Mark Cuban, said they wanted a "pass-first point guard." Frank fit this description. However, the New York Knicks picked Frank with the eighth choice. The Mavericks then chose another point guard, Dennis Smith Jr.. The Knicks' team leaders and coaches were also very interested in Frank.
Time with the New York Knicks (2017–2021)
On June 22, 2017, the New York Knicks selected Frank Ntilikina as the eighth pick. He signed with the Knicks on July 5. Frank was one of the youngest players in the NBA during his first year. He made his NBA debut on October 19, 2017. This was in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He scored his first points on October 28 against the Brooklyn Nets. In that game, he had nine points, two rebounds, and five assists.
On January 15, 2018, Frank achieved his first "double-double." This means he had 10 points and 10 assists in one game. He also had seven rebounds and two blocks. On January 24, 2018, he was chosen to play for Team World in the Rising Stars Challenge. This event happens during the NBA All-Star Weekend. Some people thought his first year with the Knicks was not as good as expected.
In his second season, Frank played in fewer games because of injuries. For his third season, he had played well in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Early in the season, he became the starting point guard. He showed strong defensive skills. On November 23, 2019, Frank made six steals in a game against the San Antonio Spurs. But he still had trouble shooting the ball. Eventually, Elfrid Payton took over as the starting point guard.
Playing for the Dallas Mavericks (2021–2023)
On September 16, 2021, Frank Ntilikina signed with the Dallas Mavericks. He played his first game with them on October 21, 2021. He played for four minutes in a game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Time with the Charlotte Hornets (2023–2024)
On August 5, 2023, Frank signed with the Charlotte Hornets. He was later released by the Hornets on February 8, 2024.
Joining Partizan Mozzart Bet (2024–Present)
On June 20, 2024, Frank Ntilikina signed with Partizan Mozzart Bet. This team plays in the Basketball League of Serbia and the Euroleague.
Playing for His Country
Frank Ntilikina has played for the French national basketball teams. He helped the Under-16 French team win the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. In that tournament, he averaged 7.4 points and 2.0 assists per game.
He was amazing when he helped France's Under-18 team win the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. In the final game against Lithuania, he scored 31 points. He made 7 out of 10 three-point shots. In the whole tournament, he averaged 15.2 points and 4.5 assists per game. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. In September 2015, Frank also had eight assists in the FIBA European Under-18 All-Star Game.
Frank also helped the senior French national team win a bronze medal. This was at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He also won two silver medals at the Summer Olympics in 2020 (Tokyo) and 2024 (Paris).
See also
In Spanish: Frank Ntilikina para niños
