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Rejoice, fellow Knicks fans: Frank Ntilikina took part in full-contact practice for the first time since injuring his knee in the preseason opener against the Nets. The point guard didn’t take part in the team scrimmage, though that was due to the fact that Jeff Hornacek didn’t want Frank overdoing it following the two-week layoff.
Preseason: ✔︎
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 16, 2017
Season Opener: 3 Days#NewYorkForever pic.twitter.com/4BdW2WjiUs
Barring a setback, Frank will play in Thursday’s season opener in Oklahoma City. He will almost certainly come off the bench, but there’s still a pretty good chance he will be matched up at some point with the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook, a point guard of some repute. Here’s what Frank had to say about the challenge, per Al Iannazzone:
“Westbrook is a very talented point guard,” Ntilikina said. “Every point guard in the league is very talented and you have to be ready for every challenge. Defensively, as offensively, you have to be ready to compete, and that’s what I will do.
“Westbrook is the MVP. It’s going to be fun.”
Don’t you just love this kid?
You listen to Frank now!
to hear from Frank Ntilikina at #Knicks practice today ( @MSGNetworks) pic.twitter.com/cX4WX5p0ar
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 16, 2017
Frank!