Present at the Elysee Palace to be knighted in the National Order of Merit this Monday, Frank Ntilikina’s good week (23) should continue since the former Knicks leader, not selected by New York, will be recovered by the Dallas Mavericks as a free agent. It was the always well-informed American journalist Marc Stein who announced it on Twitter. While it was announced for a time in Italy on the side of Bologna, the native of Ixelles should finally stay in the United States, he who had been drafted in eighth position by the Knicks in 2017. He was also at the time already desired by the Mavs, who had the ninth pick in the draft, and saw the French talent slip away before their eyes.

The Mavericks have emerged as the likely next destination for former Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina, league sources say.

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 15, 2021

The competition will be tough

He will therefore join the new league superstar Luka Dončić, whom he also eliminated with France in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games this summer. The Slovenian, who is currently on the cover of a famous basketball video game, now wants to take his team as far as possible in the play-offs. The French, silver medalist at the Tokyo Games, will still have to face competition for the position of leader, since if Luka Dončić is the titular point guard, behind other players will fight to have precious minutes as as substitutes. It will therefore be played between Jalen Brunson, Trey Burke and Frank Ntilikina, and the Texas franchise will have to make a choice and could sacrifice Trey Burke. The former Strasbourg player will therefore bring his defensive qualities and his 5.5 average points over the past four seasons, to a franchise that will need an additional defensive advantage in his quest for the title.