Frank helps at Mitchell’s youth camp
FRANK Ntilikina was drafted five spots ahead of Donovan Mitchell, but almost a year later, it’s the Knicks point guard who is looking up to a local-bred rising superstar.
“Oh it was unbelievable,” Ntilikina told the Daily News about Mitchell’s remarkable rookie season with the Jazz. “Seeing a good friend play the way he was playing. Seeing him carry his team like that. It was a great feeling for me and all of his friends. He motivates me to do great things.”
Asked whether he envisions himself playing to Mitchell’s level of last season — which included an impressive run to the Western Conference semifinals – Ntilikina added, “Yes. …Even further.”
Beyond being competitors and motivators, Ntilikina, 19, and Mitchell, 21, are also good buddies. In fact, Ntilikina made an appearance Sunday at Mitchell’s basketball camp in Greenwich, Conn., where the Jazz guard called Ntilikina his best friend in the NBA.
It seems an unlikely relationship since Ntilikina just arrived in the U.S. for the first time less than a year ago, but they apparently hit it off during the draft process and are both represented by Creative Artists Agency. After Ntilikina was taken eighth overall by the Knicks, Mitchell said he talked the Frenchman through some of the adjustments of living in New York.
Mitchell grew up just a few miles from the Knicks’ practice facility in Westchester. His father, Donovan Sr., works for the Mets as the director of player relations.
Sunday's co-ed camp was held in Mitchell’s old elementary – Greenwich Country Day School – and featured 5-on-5 games refereed by the Rookie of the Year candidate. Ntilikina assisted Mitchell during the lesson portion, lending his expertise on the Euro-step, among other things.
The camp was organized by Mitchell’s mother, Nicole, a preschool teacher at Greenwich Country Day School.
“My biggest thing was, after the end of the season, was to have a camp, back here at GCS, they did so much for me as a child,” Mitchell told The News. “They helped my mom out, they helped my sister (Jordan) when she went here. I just wanted to give back. That’s all I love doing is giving back to kids. “Right now it’s just here, things will hopefully change throughout my years in the NBA, God willing, just finding a way to continue to give back to the community, to give my advice to kids about my story, because my story is unique.”
Mitchell played two years under Rick Pitino at Louisville and was among the guards the Knicks contemplated drafting before they settled on Ntilikina. He quickly turned into the steal of the draft while averaging over 20 points in 79 games.
Ntilikina, meanwhile, proved to be more of a project while coming off the bench. He demonstrated great potential as a defender but struggled at the other end. After spending much of the offseason in France, Ntilikina returned to New York and has been working with new coach David Fizdale at the practice facility. He said Sunday that the focus has been on “offensive skills.”
“Things that help me get comfortable on the court,” Ntilikina added. “I think defensively I’ve done a great job last year and I have to keep doing it. The main part next year is going to be offensively.” GETTY
(For more details on Donovan Mitchell’s camp, go to www.myway45.com).