New York Knicks: Julius Randle needs to become an elite player
The New York Knicks are a popular topic in media today for all the wrong reasons. The franchise needs better play out of its impact players, especially veteran Julius Randle.
The 2019-2020 New York Knicks season already has all the makings of another woeful year of failed expectations and grief. The recent firing of head coach David Fizdale has added fuel to the criticism fire as front office leaders Steve Mills and Scott Perry are next on the hot seat if their free-agent signings don’t work out.
The offseason signings of several veteran players not named Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving haven’t shown any promise thus far this season. The most notable name on the list of disappointments has been a veteran budding star, Julius Randle. Randle signed a three-year, $63 million deal to be the on-court leader and clutch player the young Knicks team needed to grow as a unit.
The former Kentucky Wildcats star is averaging 16.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game so far this season. He was projected to put up better numbers surrounded by a young group of players still finding their way in the league. The Knicks are instead focusing more on their 19-year old rookie RJ Barrett for clutch moments, which as to be unsettling for fans and Randle.
In Randle’s best games, he is a number machine across the board always a threat for a triple-double, but it hasn’t been consistent. A low point for Randle was last night as he missed a game-tying free throw as time expired in the Knicks loss Saturday night at home against the Indiana Pacers.
"“We actually talked about [New Orleans] today,’’ Randle told The NY Post in an interview last month. “[Fizdale] was looking at my numbers, so we were looking at certain stuff. One of the things about bringing the ball up, he’s like in New Orleans I did it more than I’m doing it here. I think the difference is with me being keyed on by the defense [here]. They’re loading up on me and I’m attacking it a little different than I did in the past. I played with different players like AD [Anthony Davis]."
"“We had so many pieces out there. We have pieces here, too, but I’m saying it was different. I’ve played in LA where I was a key, so I got to continue to work and figure it out and find my spots this year because the defense is working on me more than in the past.”"
Next. New York Knicks: Mike Miller earned the coaching opportunity. dark
Randle has the desire to be an All-Star player in the league but needs to find a way to become consistent on a nightly basis. The Knicks franchise needs consistency overall and is banking on interim head coach Mike Miller to lead the development charge throughout the roster.