In 2019, Julius Randle decided to sign a three-year, $62.1 million deal with the New York Knicks in free agency, despite the team having struggled massively for years. It didn’t seem like the wisest career decision at the time, and during his recent appearance on the Roommates Show, Randle explained why he chose the Knicks.
“I wanted to really establish myself,” Randle said. “Obviously, wanted to become an All-Star but I wanted to win here. I felt like, and this ain’t a shot at nobody but New York was looked at like a place that nobody wanted to come to… I kinda felt like it was that Kobe spirit Mamba Mentality in me like, man let me take on this challenge.”
“It’s easy to play for the money and all that different type of stuff, but for me, it was more about legacy,” Randle continued. “Not how other people looked at me, but if I’m done playing how do I wanna look back at my career? Did I challenge myself? Did I push myself? And for me everything I wanted to envision happening is happening now. We still not there, but you know we on the way.”
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The Knicks had missed the playoffs in each of the last six seasons before Randle arrived. They were a complete mess both on and off the court and none of the big names really wanted to play for them. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant had famously spurned the Knicks to sign with the Brooklyn Nets in free agency in 2019 as well.
Randle was the consolation prize and he was coming off what was then the best season of his career. He had averaged 21.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in 2018-19 for the New Orleans Pelicans. He was just 24 years old when he made the decision to head to New York and some felt he might regret it.
Randle’s first season as a Knick proved to be a terrible one, as New York finished with a 21-45 record. There didn’t seem to be light at the end of the tunnel, but things finally changed the following season.
Randle led the Knicks to the playoffs in 2021 and won Most Improved Player for his efforts. He also became an All-Star for the first time that season and made the All-NBA Second Team. The fourth-seeded Knicks were eliminated in the first round, however, and then missed the playoffs the following season.
It seemed as if 2021 might have been an aberration, but the arrival of Jalen Brunson helped the Knicks get back on track. They made it back to the playoffs in 2023 and finally won a series, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. Randle once again was voted as an All-Star and made the All-NBA Third Team.
The Knicks are now set to make the postseason again in 2024, as they are fifth in the East with a 41-28 record. Randle was rewarded with his third All-Star nod in four seasons for his role in their successful season. The Knicks are looking like title contenders, but if they are to make noise in the playoffs, they need their star big man back on the court.
Randle, who is averaging 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game this season, dislocated his right shoulder on Jan. 27, and there still isn’t a clear timetable for when he might return. The 29-year-old should be back before the playoffs, though, and it would be interesting to see whether he can help the Knicks get to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
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