French prospect on playing with pal Ntilikina in NY: ‘It would be dope’
Three years after the Knicks selected a point guard with French roots with the eighthoverall selection, they are in position to do so again if they choose to retrace those steps. French point guard and lottery prospect Kill i an Hayes said Monday that he’s been interviewed by the Knicks, who are slated to select eighth again at the COVID-delayed 2020 NBA Draft on Nov. 18.
The 19-year-old Hayes also would enjoy playing with his friend Frank Ntilikina, who has struggled to establish himself in the NBA since Phil Jackson tabbed him with the Knicks’ lottery pick out of France in 2017.
“It would be dope,” Hayes said on a Zoom call when asked about possibly teaming up with the 22year-old Ntilikina in New York. “He’s not really a true point guard. He can play the 1 or the 2, so I think it would be a good duo.”
Hayes currently is projected in The Post’s latest mock draft to be selected one pick later by the Wizards, who are waiting for fivetime All-Star John Wall to work back from a ruptured Achilles.
Hayes, a 6-foot-5 point guard, was born in Florida but he grew up in France, where his father, DeRon Hayes, played professionally.
Killian Hayes played two seasons with Cholet, his father’s old team, in France’s top professional league before shifting last season to ratiopharm Ulm of Germany’s basketball Bundesliga. He appeared in 10 games before the league was shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hayes indicated another team he’s interviewed with is the Spurs, who also boasted French point guard Tony Parker for 17 of his 18 NBA seasons.
“I’m grateful every time a team is taking interest in me. I never take it for granted,” Hayes said. “I’ve never played in the NBA, so I ask questions about it. I’ve
known Frank [Ntilikina] for a long time now, he’s told me a lot about the NBA and what it takes to stay in the NBA. So I’m listening to these guys, because they’ve been through it.”
Arizona 6-11 forward Zeke Nnaji said the Knicks also were one of 22 teams he’s spoken to during this process, but “they were definitely one of the earlier ones” and their discussion was before Tom Thibodeau was hired as head coach.