Frank Ntilikina is frustrated about being asked if he's frustrated.
The Knicks guard snapped at a reporter following practice on Wednesday, responding to another question about his mindset riding the bench over the last two games.
"You see now," he said, per the New York Post. "How do I look?"
"Fine?" the reporter responded.
"I'm fine. How do I look out there?" Ntilikina said, gesturing to the court.
"You look like you're working hard."
"Of course, I got to do what I got to do," he answered (New York Post). "Put in the work and stay positive and cheer my teammates."
Ntilikina was later asked if he knew whether he'd be in the lineup Thursday against Boston, answering, "What did coach say?"
"Possibly," the reporter said.
"Then possibly," Ntilkina said.
After his first benching Saturday against the Bucks, the 20-year-old said that he was taking Knicks coach David Fizdale's move as a spark to hopefully get his season going.
"It's not frustration," Ntilikina had said. "I think it's motivation because as a competitor you want to be out there on the court to help your team. My job and my mindset is to keep working harder to be able to get back on the court."
Fizdale said Wednesday it was possible Ntilikina could return to the court, though the Knicks will have the same starting lineup in Boston.
"Always. Always. He's like right there," Fizdale said, per Newsday. "I've always got him right there ready to use him at all times. Like I said, he ain't out of the loop yet. He's right there."
Ntilikina, the Knicks' eighth overall pick in 2017, is averaging 5.9 points in 23 games, which is identical to what he averaged during his rookie season last year. His 2.7 assists are down from last season's 3.2 average.
Ntilkina has also been the subject of trade rumors, with the Grizzles and Suns among the teams reportedly interested.