Julius Randle is a Knicks Legend

An ode to the guy that revived Knicks basketball from the ashes.

Last night, I was on my Xbox playing CFB 25, getting frustrated at the CPU in my dynasty mode making impossible play after impossible play. I paused the game to give myself a mental break, but when I picked up my phone and opened Twitter, I was presented with a shock that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Ok, that’s partially a lie.

Both the Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby trades were similarly out of left field. I saw the OG trade poolside in Florida and the Bridges trade when I woke up in Italy. But, this felt different. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley were players I held close to my heart, but they don’t compare to the sheer shock I felt seeing Julius Randle going to the Minnesota Timberwolves last night.

Never in a million years did I think the day that Julius Randle left the Knicks would feel so awful when the Knicks signed him to a three-year, $63 million contract on June 30, 2019. At that time, he was a consolation prize after Scott Perry and Steve Mills had seemingly notched a golden sombrero in free agency, failing to sign Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, or Kawhi Leonard despite two max slots available. In reality, they got a fifth at-bat and hit a grand slam.

Through that first year, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Randle was the first option with Marcus Morris and rookie RJ Barrett getting the rest. Randle played alright, averaging 19.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. However, he shot just 46% from the field and, despite increasing volume, under 28% from deep. After the Knicks picked Obi Toppin at No. 8 overall in 2020, it felt like Randle was gonna be shipped out as a rental, similar to Morris the year prior. This was how it was supposed to go.

Randle was the top dog in the offense but he was not supposed to be this good. His jumper was better than ever, his playmaking reached new heights, and he shot a blistering 40% from 3. Massive game after massive game took place. He dropped 44 on the Hawks in February, dropped 40 twice in six days in April, and recorded six triple-doubles. It culminated in a breakout year for the ages:

• 24.1 PPG (up 4.6)
• 10.2 RPG (up 0.5)
• 6.0 APG (up 2.9)
• 41.1 3pt% (up 13.4%)
• 56.7 TS% (up 2.9%)

Randle went absolutely ballistic, being named to his first all-star team, being named Most Improved Player, and being named to the All-NBA 2nd Team. He even came eighth in MVP voting. His heroic performance lifted a Knicks team with no expectations to a 41-31 record and their first playoff appearance in eight years. His supporting cast did him no favors, surrounded by RJ Barrett, Reggie Bullock, and Elfrid Payton. Role player after role player. This isocentric offense around him failed in the playoffs, but New York had a new star. They had a new direction. The rebuild was over. Randle could’ve waited for another offseason to extend, but he generously took a four-year, $117 million extension to keep the team flexible (sound familiar?).

If Knicks fans had their way, Randle would not have been a Knick until yesterday. Despite offseason acquisitions of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier to add offense, the Knicks were dysfunctional in 2021-22. Of all the reasons, the top one was the regression of Randle. Despite ever-high usage and shot attempts, he slipped to averages of 20.1/9.9/5.1 on a career-worst 41.1% from the field and only 30.8% from 3. The allegations of being an “empty crowd merchant” reared their ugly head, as the struggles got to him mentally. The fans started to boo him, and Randle “booed” back. It got really ugly, to the point where he was the polar opposite of what he was last year. Obi Toppin and RJ Barrett showed promise in larger roles towards the end of the year. The fanbase’s main goal of the offseason was to repivot around the young guys and ship Randle out, just as his extension was beginning. Selling low, perhaps.

Obviously, it wasn’t going to happen. The Knicks added Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein and shipped out some of the We Here Era vets. It got off to a rocky start, to the point where Tom Thibodeau’s job was on the line. Then, something flipped. The Knicks got their mojo back. As did Julius Randle. He dropped 40 another four times, but he saved his best for a March 20 matchup in MSG. Against his future team, Randle dropped 57 points on a career-high eight threes. One of the greatest games in Knicks history, despite the loss. Randle was winning the fanbase back, averaging a career-high 25.1 points a night on 46% from the field and 34% from 3 on 8.3 attempts a game.

And then, the injuries.

New York’s Ironman got injured just before the playoffs after being tangled up with Bam Adebayo. He then reinjured his ankle in Game 5 against the Cavs. These injuries, culminating in off-season surgery, led to another bad postseason. After a dreadful Game 6 performance against Miami, fans at the Garden Watch Party stomped on his poster, writing “trade me” on his face”.

Things started to get ugly again as the 2023-24 season started. Randle began the year on a generationally awful shooting slump, shooting an impossibly bad 27.1% from the field on 16 FGA/game through six games. After that, Randle found his mojo again. Until January 3, he averaged 26.6 points on 51.5% shooting, although his 3-ball regressed. Around that time, the Knicks made a massive move to add OG Anunoby to improve the defense and floor spacing. That unlocked a new version of Randle, one that saw him back up to 37% from three in January, running an insane net rating, and averaging over five assists a night again. It culminated in his third all-star selection and he was on a collision course for redemption in the playoffs and maybe his third All-NBA. Until…

Little did we know, but that play was the end of Julius Randle as a Knick. He tried to come back, he worked for months rehabbing his shoulder. In the end, he couldn’t stabilize it and was shut down. While he was out, the Knicks looked formidable until injuries destroyed them from the inside. After the Bridges trade, many questions were asked about the fit of Randle, but we were confident he would adapt to whatever role. He was due for an extension this offseason, and maybe the uncertainty around his future role resulted in his demise.

You might be confused by the article title. Julius Randle is a Knicks legend? He didn’t win us a title, he didn’t win MVP, he was only a Knick for five years. He isn’t a legend.

Players to be named an All-Star three times as a Knick (since the 1970s) include Carmelo Anthony, Patrick Ewing, Micheal Ray Richardson, Earl Monroe, Clyde Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, Willis Reed, and Julius Randle. He’s one of nine Knicks to be a multi-time All-NBA player and three played before 1960. He’s the 17th-highest scorer in team history (we’ve been around since 1946, btw) and the only one who played just five seasons and scored 7,000. He’s 18th in rebounds, 18th in assists, sixth in PPG average, 16th in RPG average, and fourth all-time in 3PM with 638.

Furthermore, Randle is the reason the Knicks are here today. If he never emerged as a superstar, the Knicks would’ve given the keys to the franchise to RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin, who would’ve continued the LolKnicks banner until this regime got replaced. He’s been controversial, he’s been insulted, he’s been unfairly painted as being overrated by the NBA media and NBA fans everywhere.

Look, I didn’t watch Patrick Ewing or John Starks. I didn’t watch Clyde Frazier or Willis Reed. Aside from brief childhood memories of Linsanity and Melo’s Knickstape playoff runs, all I’ve known is bad basketball from my Knicks. The 2020-21 season will forever be my favorite until I see a Knicks championship. Maybe this trade will help us accomplish that.

Julius Randle won’t get his number retired. He might not even be the best 30 in franchise history. All I’m saying is that, between him and Bernard King, I don’t think I’d be comfortable giving that number out to just anybody anytime soon.

Hope we see you back on Alumni Row one day, Big Ju. Love ya.