The New York Knicks’ point guard position remained in question entering training camp and the preseason. Elfrid Payton, Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina were in competition, and they all went head-to-head in the four exhibition games, including two starts each for Payton and Smith.
However, none of them started on opening night against the San Antonio Spurs. It was a bench situation for each player, taking a surprise turn from what was expected. Lacking offensive performances and ball-handling concerns made these players reserves for the first game.
That saga may have changed during the game, though, as head coach David Fizdale’s experiment was altered within minutes.