Julius Randle’s relationship with the parish Knickerbocker has taken a radical 180 degree turn since his criticized signing in 2019 to the present. Along the way he has become one of the pillars of the team; He has been chosen in the Second Best Quintet of 2021; in the Third of 2023, and along the way he has also added three teams to compete in the All-Star Game.
His arrival at Big Apple It was quite a challenge for him, as he recently recognized in the podcast starring Brunson and Hart, and which I highly recommend. The scenario she arrived at was not ideal. The franchise was literally in ruins, the coach selection was not the best (David Fizdale) and the squad had such diverse names, such as Allonzo Trier, Dennis Smith Jr., Bobby Portis or Maurice Harkless, among many others.
Randle played with a sense of urgency. He had signed a ‘great contract’ (3 years and 63 million) and wanted to prove it from day one. However, he was wrong. In a directionless team he played ‘without rhyme or reason’, zero basketball IQ (everything must be said), and I emphasize, the scenario was not the best with Fizdale at the controls? He didn’t do too well in the beginning.
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However, despite his many detractors, time has proven him right, and with Leon Rose through, he has turned the Knicks into a winning franchise that, with Thibs as head coach, has a record of 166-138 and with two playoff appearances, including last year’s Semifinals.
Julius Randle on why he chose the Knicks:
“I wanted to win here. I felt like, 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… pic.twitter.com/84Ch3i7mqy
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) March 21, 2024
«I wanted to win here. It wasn’t an option for anyone, but New York was a place I wanted to come. I felt Kobe’s spirit within me. The ‘Mamba mentality’… Face this challenge. It’s easy to play for money, but for me it was about my legacy. How do I want to look back when I have finished my career? Did I challenge myself? I struggled? And actually everything I imagined is what is happening to me right now. But we’re not there yet (the championship). You know, we’re on the road,” Randle said.
Still in dry dock due to a shoulder injury, he is in the final stretch of his comeback, perhaps a few games before the start of the playoffs (if they qualify directly). In his fifth year as Knickerbocker He is putting up figures of 24 points, 9 rebounds and 5.2 assists per day.
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(Cover photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
2024-03-22 11:00:00
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