The big one who got away
Draft blunder back to haunt Knicks
The biggest Knicks draft mistake in recent years was wrecking their space Wednesday night, pummeling them into further embarrassment.
Donovan Mitchell was passed over by the Knicks in 2017 when they took Frank Ntilik- ina eighth overall. Now Mitchell’s a bonafide star leading the Jazz to the playoffs and dropping 30 points at the Garden in a 137-116 blowout.
“He’s a nightmare to guard,” David Fizdale said. “The guy can get anywhere on the floor. He’s so strong, he’s fast, he can shoot the 3, he finishes through contact. He’s a big-time player.”
If anybody needed a reminder that the Knicks (14-58) are the worst team in the NBA, the futility was on full ghastly display Wednesday night. They trailed by double digits for the final three quarters. They trailed by as many as 37 points. They lost for the 11th time in their last 12 games. They need to win at least three of their final 10 games to avoid the worst record in franchise history.
Mitchell, on the other hand, is hitting his stride toward the end of this season. The 22year-old needed just three quarters and 29 minutes to amass his points Wednesday because he sat the entire fourth.
The Greenwich, Ct., product, whose father works for the Mets, said he had about 200 family and friends in attendance.
“Life comes full circle and it’s really special for me to be here,” he said. “Last year was kind of hectic for me mentally (playing at the Garden), but this year was kind of more relaxed.”
Mitchell was on the Knicks’ radar and worked out for Phil Jackson and Steve Mills one day before the draft. But they settled on Ntilikina. Mitchell was picked five spots later – 13th overall – so several teams made the same mistake. But none choosing in top-8 have have had lesser returns from their pick than the Knicks, who were without Ntilikina for the 24th consecutive game Wednesday night because of a groin strain.
Mitchell grew close with Ntilikina during the draft process and defended him against critics. Despite the Frenchman’s lofty draft status, the Knicks haven’t provided him consistent minutes – especially as the lead guard.
Mitchell pointed out the lack of an opportunity for Ntilikina, and also the 20-yearold’s stout defending during last year’s matchup at the Garden.
“He’s really good. People don’t see that. A lot of times you don’t see that in the way he’s playing and I think that when he’s given a chance – and it’s easy to say he got one his rookie year but it was his rookie year. So when he gets a chance, he’ll figure it out,” Mitchell said.” He’s a great defender. He was one of the hardest guys I had to go against last year. He came in in the second half and shut me down when we played here. So he’s a talented player and once he starts figuring it out on the offensive end, he’ll be a really good player.”
The Knicks tried to pry Mitchell away from the Jazz in January by dangling Kristaps Porzingis in a trade. But Utah resisted dealing its 23-year-old franchise star. As he embarrassed the Knicks on Wednessday, it was easy to see why.
“I found out the same time everybody else found out,” he said. “They kept that one quiet on purpose. For me, I love Utah. I’m not concerned about anything else.”
FRANK’S FUTURE?
Ntilikina is hopeful about returning from his groin injury Friday against the Nuggets, but by then, they’ll only have 10 games remaining.
“I want to see how it is (after Thursday’s practice), and then evaluate with the medical staff and also myself,” Ntilikina said.