Knicks' Jarrett Jack impressed with Frank Ntilikina, eager to mentor him
Jarrett Jack directs his teammates against the Pistons during a game at Barclays Center on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015. Credit: Newsday / Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — After missing nearly a year and a half with a leg injury, Jarrett Jack is happy to be back in the NBA and looking forward to helping Knicks rookie Frank Ntilikina any way possible.
The Knicks signed Jack last week to add depth to their backcourt and experience at the point guard spot. Jack has worked out a few times with Ntilikina, the 19-year-old French point guard the Knicks took with the No. 8 pick in the draft, and has been impressed with him.
“He’s a solid kid, man,” Jack said Tuesday at the Knicks’ practice facility. “Really, really can play. Really long arms, really active defensively. Great size. Just looking forward to giving him all the game that I’ve gotten over these 13 years.
“He has a lot of tools that you can’t teach but just the cerebral side of it, that’s where I come into play. Just try to help him to some little tricks of the trade as the season goes along and just understanding what it means to be a starting point guard in this league.”
Jack, whose deal was not guaranteed, gives the Knicks four point guards on the roster. They also signed veteran Ramon Sessions and re-signed second-year guard Ron Baker, a favorite of coach Jeff Hornacek’s last season. It should lead to a healthy competition in training camp, which starts a week from today. Jack’s main focus is staying healthy.
He has been a productive and dependable player in his career. Jack, 33, was averaging 12.8 points and 7.4 assists when he tore his left ACL in January 2016 while playing for the Nets. Jack appeared in just two games last season for the Pelicans.
But Jack says the knee is fine now. He has no limitations and hasn’t had any setbacks.
“I feel great, getting to play consecutive games now, not having any setbacks, no swelling,” he said. “Very, very refreshing and ready to get to work next week.”
To that end, Jack isn’t going into camp with any expectations. He said he would play whatever role that Hornacek asks of him.
“Whatever job capacity they need, I feel I’ve been in all of them, and done well in all of them,” Jack said. “If that’s what it is [starting], that’s cool. If it’s not, that’s cool too. There’s a lot of ways to make a significant impact on team. It’s a long season, long journey. Who knows how it shakes out when all is said and done? I think I’m a well-rounded player.”
Heading into free agency Jack wasn’t on the Knicks’ radar. He had a conversation with Scott Perry, but he was with the Sacramento Kings at the time. The Knicks hired Perry as general manager on July 14 and two months later he signed Jack.
“Right when we talked, he got the job here and I was like, ‘Damn, so much for that,’ ” Jack said. “It carried over. Hopefully made a good impression. Thankfully he allowed me to come here.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
