Why Some Inside Knicks Hold “Concern” About Julius Randle

The New York Knicks are in the midst of one of the most disappointing seasons of any team around the NBA. After earning the fourth seed last year, there was real optimism about the team’s chances to come back on a strong note with Julius Randle leading the charge.

Instead, Randle has not built off his All-NBA Second-Team campaign from last season that featured averages of 24.1 points, 102 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. His three-point percentage went from 41.1% down to 30.1% while also having lapses in effort on defense coupled with viral on-court incidents with the latest resulting in him getting fined a combined $50,000.

According to Marc Berman of New York Post, there is “concern inside the Knicks organization” about the “overall psyche” of Randle as the team continues to rack up losses.

“Randle’s overall psyche is of concern inside the Knicks organization, according to an NBA source,” Berman wrote.

“The source said Randle didn’t come into training camp in the same type of sensational shape as he did last season, before Thibodeau’s first year guiding the Knicks. Perhaps that prevented him from being the type of two-way player — giving energy on both sides of the ball — that he was during his second team All-NBA season.”

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Grant Afseth

Grant Afseth is an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network and Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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