By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Removing himself from the pool of free agents, Frank Ntilikina is heading to the Charlotte Hornets.
Ntilikina, 25, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Hornets, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Currently focusing on the training camp of France’s senior national team, heading to the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Ntilikina will eventually return to the NBA, ready for a third new team, following the Dallas Mavericks and the New York Knicks.
Back in 2017, the Knicks selected the French point guard with the 8th overall pick in the NBA draft. Lasting four years in the Big Apple, he switched to the Mavs as a free agent in 2021. Last season, in his sixth NBA campaign, he tallied 2.9 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.1 blocks per contest over 47 appearances. His efforts alongside Slovenian sensation Luka Doncic fell short of punching in a ticket to the 2022 Playoffs, shaping an early start to the offseason.
Developing years at SIG Strasbourg led to participation in multiple European club continental competitions, spreading from four appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and five in the 7DAYS EuroCup during the 2015-16 season and 14 games played in the Basketball Champions League through the 2016-17 season.
At the international level, representing France stretched to the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2020 Olympic Games. Before jumping to the senior national team, he competed in the 2015 and 2016 FIBA U18 European Championship and the 2014 U16 European Championship.