FRENCH LESSONS
Veteran point guard happy to be mentor to European rookie
Ramon Sessions has no problem babysitting. He has spent large segments of his 10-year NBA career serving as a caretaker for younger players such as Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker.
So when he inked a oneyear deal for the veteran’s minimum with the Knicks on July 28, Sessions knew mentoring rookie Frank Ntilikina would be as important as how frequently he put the ball in the basket.
“I look at it as I’m still going to play, and they want me to obviously help the young fella out, which I have no problem with,” he said Monday after practice, three days before the season opener against the Thunder and Carmelo Anthony. “It’s a situation I’m familiar with. I did it in Minnesota. I did it in Cleveland. I did it with Kemba in Charlotte.”
While Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said he has yet to decide on a starting lineup, it is expected Sessions will get the call on opening night after Ntilikina missed four of the team’s five preseason games with a bruised right knee. Ntilikina has taken part in the past two practices, though he was held out of a scrimmage Monday while Sessions averaged 6.0 points, 3.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds in the preseason.
“He’s a veteran guy who knows how to play,” Hornacek said. “He’s got a good pace. He gets our guys into the sets and runs the offense really well.”
Sessions underwent surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee in February, cutting his season short after appearing in 50 games with the Hornets. A career backup, he isn’t concerned about his role on the floor, whether he will start or come off the bench. He’s thrilled still to be in the league at the age of 31 and for it to be with the Knicks. A Bulls fan growing up, he followed the Knicks as a youngster and is excited to see what it will be like playing at the Garden as a member of the home team.
“It’s one of those things that’s surreal,” said Sessions, who is with his eighth NBA team. “That jersey will go up at the house. I will cherish this the rest of my life.”
He also hopes to help Ntilikina as he did Irving and Walker. Sessions tries not to overload Ntilikina with too much information. So much is new for the rookie from France, and he is playing catch-up after missing so much time on the floor. The two frequently talk, and Sessions likes to ask Ntilikina what he sees out on the court. They talk about much more than just basketball, like maintaining a healthy diet and staying out of trouble away from the court. In particular, Sessions stressed to Ntilikina not to get down about the knee injury.
“It’s a long season, a lot of ups and downs, just ride it down,” he told him.
To Sessions, mentoring Ntilikina is like paying it forward. When he broke into the league, he was given similar lessons by Desmond Mason and Mo Williams about what it takes to be a professional, and he takes the task seriously.
“Helping the young fella out, that’s not even a job. It’s something I enjoy doing,” Sessions said. “I try to teach him little things that can help his game.”