Ntilikina finds ways to stay involved despite knee injury

Frank Ntilikina is making progress, slowly but steadily, in advance of Thursday’s regular-season opener against Carmelo Anthony and the Thunder.

The Knicks’ rookie point guard from France took part in his second straight practice Monday, doing more than he did Saturday, and the expectation is he will be available when the season begins.

“If the plan goes well, I should play Thursday,” the long-armed 6-foot-5 guard said.

Ntilikina, who missed the team’s final four preseason games with a bruised right knee after appearing in the opener, did everything except participate in a scrimmage Monday. That was part of the plan, he said, to build up endurance and strength in the knee prior to Thursday. Feeling no more discomfort in the knee, he expects to get in more work Tuesday and Wednesday. He likely will back up veteran Ramon Sessions on Thursday but could see time on reigning MVP Russell Westbrook.

“Westbrook is the MVP. It’s going to be fun,” said the defensive-minded Ntilikina, the eighth-overall selection in last June’s draft. “Every point guard in the league is very talented, and you have to be ready for every challenge. Defen- sively as offensively, I have to be ready to compete, and that’s what I will do.”

Ntilikina has come off as confident in himself yet not cocky. He isn’t worried about not being ready to play because of missing so much time with the injured knee during the preseason and during the NBA summer league, when a different knee injury kept him on the sideline.

The heady rookie has received high marks for his focus, his diligence in watching his teammates and for staying invested even from the bench. Coach Jeff Hornacek said he was impressed Ntilikina picked up a few new plays after watching one preseason game from home, and Ntilikina has made a point of talking to his new teammates about where they like the ball and how to get it to them to develop chemistry.

“I did the maximum to keep my mind in there with the guys,” Ntilikina said.

“It’s funny. Usually for a young guy like that, you have to spend a lot of time explaining plays, explaining NBA sets,” Hornacek said. “You’re not able to do all the little tricks and those things for a while. With Frank, you can talk about them already.

“A lot of guys in the league don’t have a great feel for the game, but there are some who do, and Frank is one of them.”