New billboard not going to rookie’s head

Frank Ntilikina is out ... with a billboard.

Entering the regular season, the Knicks’ rookie point guard will have as many preseason games under his belt as he does giant billboards.

On Friday, a new Nike billboard of Ntilikina was unveiled, nearly completed, on a high-rise building next to the Garden. That’s a lot to live up to for a 19-year-old novice, but Ntilikina was unfazed.

“I didn’t see it but received a lot of texts,’’ said Ntilikina, who missed the preseason finale against Washington on Friday with a bruised right knee. “It’s very big. It’s crazy. I love it.”

He said he had no idea one was going up so soon.

“I was surprised, honestly,’’ Ntilikina said. “I like it but I got to be focused on the court.’’

In France, his club, Strasbourg sold T-shirts with Ntilikina’s face on it. Billboards?

“Just for a bus stop — that’s it,’’ Ntilikina said. “Not as big as that.’’

After playing the preseason opener, scoring five points on 1-of-7 shooting, Ntilikina missed the final four exhibitions, but vowed to start practicing full-time Saturday.

The 6-foot-5 Frenchman also didn’t seem ready to concede the starting point-guard job, though it’s expected veteran Ramon Sessions will get the call Thursday in Oklahoma City against Russell Westbrook. Ntilikina came off the bench in Strasbourg before becoming the starter in midseason.

“It’s the coach’s decision — the coach knows what’s best for the team,’’ Ntilikina said. “Coming off the bench or starting, I’ll do my job. I’ll be on court and do the best for the team and make temmates better and try to get the win. It will be coach’s decision. And it’s my job to prove him be able to start at practice.’’

Ntilikina missed all of summer league with a similar knee bruise. This one he got from a kneeon-knee collision with Enes Kanter in the opener. Hornacek said Ntilikina still had “tenderness’’ and the club was “just being cautious.’’

“He’s itching to get out there,’’ Hornacek said. “They don’t want to practice but want to play all the games.’’

As for the new billboard, Hornacek isn’t worried about Ntilikina’s psyche.

“So far what we’ve seen, I don’ t think it’s going to be a problem for him,’’ Hornacek said. ‘He’s a very smart kid and he’s not swayed by the big lights. He just knows how to play basketball and will step up to the challenges. There’s no starry-eyed with him. He’s got great confidence.’’