Ntilikina eager for break

Rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina is looking forward to the break — getting away from the Knicks’ deep slide, picking the brains of the All-Star talent arriving in Hollywood and hanging out with Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell, whom he worked out with over the summer. Mitchell, who lives in Connecticut, is now the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year honors. Ntilikina hasn’t had that type of season, hitting a rookie wall since early January. But his defensive prowess got him picked by the assistant coaches for All-Star weekend’s Friday rookie-sophomore staple “The Rising Stars Challenge.”

Sure, the 19- year- old from France could’ve had the weekend off in New York to see more sights, finally go to one of the city’s French restaurants. Before the season started, Ntilikina took a trip to the Statue of Liberty. Its creator hails from Colmar — the town next to Ntilikina’s hometown of Strasbourg. But Los Angeles will be better. “I just want to enjoy this experience and trying to just take my mind off, think of something else and come back even stronger,’’ Ntilikina told The Post. “Come back with all the good advice.

“It’s going to be good see something else, relax and do something else. ... Sometimes it gets you back even stronger and focused.”

Ntilikina’s statistics (5.3 points per game, 35.3 percent from the field in 20 minutes) don’t necessarily warrant a Rookie-Sophomore bid, but assistants who vote like young defenders, like his 6-foot-5 size, and 7-foot wingspan. He showed his knack in Philadelphia on Monday in racing back to block a Ben Simmons dunk at the rim, although he picked up a foul.

“Coaches select these teams, I’m thankful and proud of it,’’ Ntilikina said. “I showed a lot of great things even if my potential is not here yet. I didn’t reach it yet. I’m going to enjoy this and it’s going to motivate me to come back better.’’