One of the biggest reasons that the New York Knicks are experiencing the turnaround that they are having is power forward, Julius Randle. Randle signed with New York as a free agent in the 2019 NBA offseason, agreeing to a three-year, $62.1 million deal.
Things could not have started off much worse for his tenure in New York. The team wasn’t any good and he didn’t play very well. Fans were quick to jump on him, raining down boos on a nightly basis.
The New York Knicks were one of the few teams that were not invited to the Orlando Bubble because they did not qualify. Trade rumors began picking up that the Knicks could look to trade Randle after they selected Obi Toppin with the 8th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Good thing they didn’t, as Randle returned with a vengeance in Year 2. He worked hard in the offseason and the results paid off, as Randle turned in his first All-Star season, being named Most Improved Player of the Year and earning All-NBA Second Team honors.
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The former Kentucky product averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game. He was an integral part of the team earning the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference last season, leading the team in points, rebounds, and assists.
The Knicks are hoping that a repeat performance is on deck for the 2021-22 season. There are many people that believe Randle’s season was a fluke and he will return back to Earth this season, but there is one NBA scout that believes Randle is here to stay.
“I definitely think Julius Randle’s production last season is sustainable, and I think the reason why is just because he’s an elite worker and I think they’ve built it around him, the roster, and the team, even though they added Kemba and Fournier and RJ kind of growing, and then Mitchell Robinson, but I think he’s the first option.”
If anything, things should be easier for Randle this season. Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier will help take pressure off of him and RJ Barrett to create all of the offense for the team.
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The Knicks’ offense has already looked lightyears better in the preseason, as Walker is a huge upgrade offensively on Elfrid Payton. Reggie Bullock was a key contributor to the team, but he was limited to just catch-and-shoot opportunities offensively. Fournier brings the same ability but with a much more diverse offensive skill set, which includes some secondary playmaking and ball-handling as well.
With defenses no longer able to key in specifically on him each time down the court, Julius Randle should find some easier scoring opportunities every night. He can be positioned in different areas on the court as the team will not have to rely on him as their sole initiator of the offense.
