INSIDE MIND OF 1ST-ROUND PICK

Knicks first-round draft pick Frank Ntilikina, an 18-year-old French League point guard taken eighth overall Thursday, takes a shot at some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.

Q: What would you want to tell Knicks fans about Phil Jackson? A: He has a system that brings a lot of championships. We have to trust him, trust the way he do, and like see what will happen. Q: Will it be fun for you to play with Kristaps Porzingis? A: Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure. Great player. ... We can have a great relationship on the court, play pick-and-roll together. Q: Are you going to enjoy playing on the big stage and the bright lights of New York? A: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think definitely I will try to focus on the more important things. Like I think at the end just stay basketball, like you don’t have to focus on what is outside to be efficient. So definitely I will try to do it, and I will like it because we have a lot of fans behind us, the New York Knicks, so definitely will be good. Q: Every point guard has their own style. How would you describe your style? A: Team style. Like I said, trying to get the win at the end, trying to make the right decision. Q: Let me ask you about some players. Do you know who Walt “Clyde” Frazier is? A: I didn’t watch a lot of tapes, I can’t tell you about his game. Q: John Wall? A: Great player. What he’s doing in the league is just great. Very athletic point guard. Just knows how to make his own play. Q: Kyrie Irving? A: Just crazy handle. Great scorer, and actually can make incredible plays to get to the rim. QQ: DDerrickik Rose?R ? A: Crazy athleticism. Actually made it great after his injury. Youngest MVP in history. Q: How would you feel about learning from him if the Knicks re-sign him? A: Great, great. What he did in his career was great, youngest MVP in the NBA history. I mean, just great to learn from him, more from for a rookie, his transition has been quick, so asking him questions about his transition, about how he learned it, about how he got to this level. Q: Isaiah Thomas? A: Just wow. What is he doing with his size, just knowing how to make a difference with his size, using his body making the difference. Q: Steph Curry? A: Great shooter. But I think it’s just crazy how he can make a difference going to the layup and making the right decision — trick the defender, so it will be really exciting to defend against him. Q: Are you good at tricking the defenders? A: Yeah, yeah (smile). Q: Why do you like playing defense so much? A: You try not to getting scored on. I think me getting scored on’s like, I will be like, “Yeah, Frank, come on, like wake up, this guy just scored on you.” Q: Does it make you angry? A: Angry, yeah, kind of angry, and kind of I have to do better at it. Q: Magic Johnson? A: Definitely one of the greatest players in NBA history. Q: Can you do some of the things that he did? A: Definitely I will try to be the best player I can be, do my own game. I think a big point guard like him, a big guard like him, I can take some of his moves and build my own game from it. Q: Do you have a nickname? A: No, no, no nickname yet. Q: What would be a good nickname for you?’ A: I don’t know, I don’t know. We’ll figure it out (smile). Q: What area do you need to improve? A: Just my way to make plays on my own. Create my own play. QQ: AAre you a studenttdt off ththe game? ? A: Yeah, for sure. Q: How much do you study the game? A: A lot, a lot. I mean I just try to get better by all the ways possible. That is really important to me to watch film so I have the knowledge of the game. Q: Is the triangle an easy offense for you to learn? A: I don’t know how the coach will explain it. ... I just know that the game we play back in France is very similar to it. Q: Do you talk smack? A: I do it sometimes when like the opponent starts to do it, I got to answer. I need to do it, right? But if I don’t need it, I’m cool. Q: Do you know how to lead men? A: Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure. I will need time, and I [will] work to get my teammates’ confidence, but yeah for sure. I think I can lead men. I can lead a team, get the team better, and just try to get the win. Q: What is your mentality on the court? A: Just get the win. The thing that I think about actually, just get the win no matter what happens, no matter how, I just want to get it. Q: Who was your boyhood idol? A: I didn’t have one idol. I just liked to watch a lot of players, see from them what I can bring to my game ... and bring my own game. Q: Who are some of the guys that you maybe stole some stuff from? A: Stole some stuff from, like definitely Rajon Rondo, like all the best point guards, the best shooting guards, Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook. Q: Who do you think is the most similar to you? A: Actually, I don’t know, like I’ve been trying to build my own game. I don’t like to compare me to any of those players, I just try to be me and to be the best me I can be. Q: Do you think you make the guys around you better? A: Yeah, Definitely, definitely. I think I’m a player that loves to have a lot of chemistry on the court with his team, and loves to build it. I think it’s really important for teams who want to be successful to have good chemistry.

Q: Why is it important for you to be great? A: Like I say, I just want to be the best player I can be, pushing my limits. Definitely I will see where it will bring me ... NBA All-Star maybe. I hope so, I’ll work for it. Q: Who are athletes in other sports you admire? A: [Argentinian soccer player] Lionel Messi, [French soccer player] Kylian Mbappé. Q:A: Q: Superstitions?Do Routinesyou have that superstitions?you go through beforeA: It’s my games? superstition, so (smile) ... Q: It’s a secret, you mean? A: Yeah, yeah, yeah (smile). Q: Do you have a lot of them? A: No, no, not a lot. Not a lot. Q: What do your brothers mean to you? A: They’re successful in what they are both doing. My mom has made a lot of sacrifices, and they have been there for me like almost raising me with my mom and my teachers. My family’s just everything to me with basketball, for sure. Q: Where is your father? A: He’s in Belgium with my sister, but I’ve grown up with my two brothers and my mother, so ... we’re cool, we have a good relationship. Q: Tell me about your mother. A: She’s a strong woman. She faced the war actually back in Africa [Rwanda], and then she raised us alone with my brothers. She made a lot of sacrifices to allow us to be here. She just showed us how life is. Thanks to her, with my brothers, we grow up faster than just regular kids. Q: Where did you shop for that nice draft outfit? A: We’ve been working on it with my tailor back in France. I’ve been working since like three months on it. Q: How would you describe your style of dress? A: Definitely I wanted to like go just a little bit crazy but not too much (smile), and then classy, definitely. I’m glad people like it. Q: You’ll have to find a tailor in New York now, right? A: Maybe maybe. ... Or maybe I can work with my tailor back in France. The name of the store is Atelier Cinq. Like Atelier 5. Q: How will you handle the girls in New York? A: (Smile) I don’t know, I don’t know. ... Like I said, I’ll try just to be focused on the court, it’s the most important thing. I think this one of the things you gotta be careful of, but definitely focus on the court. Q: Favorite movie? A: “Pursuit of Happyness.” Q: Favorite actor? A: Will Smith. Q: Favorite singer/entertainer? A: Drake. Q: Favorite meal? A: Pasta. Q: You’re in a good city for pasta. A: I know, I know. I’ve been to [a New York] Italian restaurant. Q: Where did you go? A: Pietro’s. Q: Yeah, that’s a good place. I’ve got better places. A: Yeah? So give it to me (smile). Q: Hobbies? A: Basketball. Q: How good are you at playing the guitar and piano? A: (Laugh) How did you know that? I didn’t learn how to read the notes, but definitely I like to play music, to listen to music, I like music a lot. But I’m not really good at it (smile). Q: Why is New York a good city for you? A: It feels like everybody is living so fast with a lot of enthusiasm, and I just love it. It will help me a lot to be here, to be in a city like this.