Knicks head coach David Fizdale appears to be sending a message to his point guards right off the bat — as neither Dennis Smith Jr., Elfrid Payton nor Frank Ntilikina will be in the starting lineup for Tuesday’s season-opener in San Antonio.
Instead, rookie forward RJ Barrett and shooting guard Allonzo Trier will share the backcourt against the Spurs.
Smith Jr., Payton and Ntilikina struggled during the preseason.
“They have to earn it,” Fizdale said of the three during pregame, according to The Post’s Marc Berman.
Here is the Knicks’ full starting lineup against the Spurs:
RJ Barrett
Allonzo Trier
Marcus Morris
Julius Randle
Bobby Portis