Despite playing out of position with Strasbourg this season, Ntilikina continues to establish himself as the best foreign prospect in 2017’s class. At 6-5, he’s a rangy playmaker with excellent explosiveness off the bounce and court vision that should allow him to run an NBA offense from day one.
Ntilikina’s confidence in shooting the ball is his most pressing concern coming in. Although playing on the wing has helped him get up some more shots this season, he still hasn’t shined as somebody capable of willingly scoring at a high clip yet. His forte will remain handling the ball and orchestrating the flow of the offense, with some off-ball shooting likely to be his primary form of scoring early on.
With that said, the Frenchman is still capable of getting to the rim and finishing. He’s among the draft’s more underrated athletes, and has the sly dribbling skills and shifty ball handling needed to work his way into the interior and carve out space. He’s one of the smartest players you’ll find according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, and is still a relatively young 18-year-old.
In addition to his offensive promise, he’s an excellent defender, providing the size and athleticism needed to cover both guard spots.
Where he fits with the Philadelphia 76ers
While Ben Simmons appears prepared to take on primary point guard duties, Ntilikina could fit in nicely as a secondary creator offensively. He has the shooting touch needed to play off the ball, and has the type of premier feel for the game that could aid in taking the load off of the 6-10 Simmons in some scenarios.
His off-ball play this season could benefit him quite a bit if he were shifted into the Sixers’ rotation as well. He’s more comfortable than he was coming into the season as a swingman, and Philadelphia could theoretically rely on his as a multipositional cog depending on the lineup they thrown onto the court.
Ntilikina’s promise as both a playmaker and a two-way 3-and-D man leaves his ceiling fairly high in the Sixers’ uniform. He could take some time to iron out just where he fits into an NBA offense, but that’s something Philadelphia can easily afford him. He’s a high-end guard prospect, and that’s something the Sixers need moving forward.
Expert’s Opinion — Jeremy Woo, SI.com
"The lanky French wünderkind checks all the boxes athletically, boasting a wingspan apparently close to seven feet and reputation for his defensive prowess. Like most teenage prospects in Europe, he’s been unable to secure consistent playing time with his club this season, but the flashes have been positive and NBA teams remain on his scent. He should be able to capably defend both guard positions and has a reputation as a collected decision-maker. Ntilikina’s perimeter shooting remains a work in progress, but he’s got a lot to look forward to as he improves."
Big Board Rankings:
- Big Board 3.0 — 10
- Jeremy Woo — 11
- DraftExpress — 12
- Sam Vecenie — 10