As the New York Knicks continue to fall further out of the Eastern Conference playoff race, the question as to why rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina hasn't gotten to start a game yet in head coach Jeff Hornacek's lineup becomes a hotter topic by the day.

On Monday afternoon, Knicks beat reporter Ian Begley of ESPN asked coach Hornacek about why Ntilikina isn't starting yet at point guard over Jarrett Jack.

“Frank's still developing. Trey's coming in there. But I think the thought at the beginning of the year was maybe Frank at some point would become that guy. But he's still trying to grasp having to go out there every single night and play so I don't know if we're quite there. But he's learning from Jarrett,” coach Hornacek said.

In 50 games this season for Ntilikina, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft is currently averaging 5.3 points, 3.4 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game in just 20.2 minutes of action per contest.

According to Hornacek, he's going to stick with a more veteran presence in Jack as his starting point guard rather than the 19-year-old rookie in Ntilikina.

“I think Jarrett's been solid all year. You're not going to get a spectacular highlight, dunks of maybe some young point guards. But he knows how to run a team. He's thinking out there,” Hornacek said. “He's that thinking point guard that has done a great job in getting us organized in things and he'll continue to do that.”

After the Knicks headed into 2018 with an 18-18 record, they have gone just 5-13 since then and have lost three straight contests.