Frank Ntilikina, who joined the Hornets last summer, saw his new adventure delayed by a fractured tibia a few days before the regular season. Three months later, the Frenchman is preparing to make his return. He could play his first NBA game of the year this Friday, against Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs.
During his visit to San Antonio, we were able to discuss his imminent return to the court, his season in Charlotte and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
After your tibia fracture in pre-season, you have finally returned to training and your first match with your new team is approaching. How do you feel ?
Frank Ntilikina: Much better. Dealing with these injuries over the last few years hasn’t been easy, but it’s getting better and better. It’s already nice to gradually resume training with my teammates. We continue to take things day by day, to get back in shape to return to the best level to return to the best level from the first competitive matches.
You arrived in Charlotte this summer, but you haven’t yet been able to play in a regular season game with the Hornets. With these absences, how did you manage to maintain contact with the team and adapt to this new environment?
Precisely, by staying connected with the group. Trying to bring what I can bring, even without playing. We’re a team, we all help each other, whether it’s on plays, systems, our basketball mentality… in what we’re trying to build together. It is very important to maintain this link with the team and to contribute what we can, in order to waste as little time as possible during the restart.
“It takes time, because it’s not easy to get back to the best level to play an NBA game, but everything is going well. »
Before your injury, Steve Clifford highlighted your contribution in defense and suggested that you could take a significant place in the team. Do you already know what role you are going to play?
I will play my game. We have a lot of very talented players on the team, so I will bring what I can: defense, good choices in attack, putting my teammates in good conditions… I will do what I know TO DO. I can’t wait to get back on the field. It takes time, because it’s not easy to get back to the best level to play an NBA game, but everything is going well.
Beyond the NBA, there is the French team. You had to withdraw from the Euro and the World Cup because of your injuries. Now that you’re back in shape, we imagine that you have the Paris Olympic Games in your sights?
Of course, and it will happen very quickly! It’s 2024, it’s the big year! I am very excited for our country to have the Olympic Games at home and to play them. But right now, I’m really focused on the present — as usual. For now, the priority is to get back in shape, get back on the court and get my basketball back. This is the most important for me, personally.
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