Julius Randle was an NBA All-Star this season for just the second time in his career. With averages of 24.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, he has been the best player on the Knicks this season by far.
But it hasn’t always been this easy for Randle. Just last season, his time with the Knicks almost came to an end after playing well below expectations for months. In a recent exclusive interview with Yahoo Sports, the Knicks star reflected on last season and what went wrong.
“Last year was tough. I’m a competitor at heart. You get addicted to winning and wanting to experience that,” Randle told Yahoo Sports. “And for me, I wasn’t at my best and we didn’t build off what he had did the year before. So it was tough. It was a frustrating year.”
Randle’s numbers and efficiency saw a major dip in the 2021-22 campaign, and many thought it would become the new normal for Randle, who turned 28 in November.
But after a summer of traveling and mental breaks, Randle returned this season fresh and at the top of his game.
“I just had to get my peace and joy back,” he said. “I just had to get my perspective back on the game and life in general. But it was also something that I learned a lot about myself as well.”
Admittedly, Julius isn’t going to win MVP, and the Knicks should not be favored to win the East. But compared to how bad things were last season, both Randle and the Knicks are in a good spot and have to be feeling good about the future.
Knicks Still Looking For Top-Tier Superstar
As good as Randle has been for them this season, the Knicks still need a top 10 player if they want to make a real playoff run. They failed to land Irving or Kevin Durant, but they have the assets necessary to make a push this summer.
If not, we will likely see the Knicks continue to trust in the development of their guys, including Randle, RJ Barrett, and defensive juggernaut Mitchell Robinson.
Clearly, the Knicks aren’t far from being a real threat, and all they might need is one more major piece to put them over the edge.
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