” We are not that far off. “Seeing the Heat invite themselves to the NBA Finals despite an eighth place finish in the East, Julius Randlewhose team had been eliminated by Floridians in the second round of the playoffs, said to himself that the last step was accessible.
Unfortunately for the New Yorkers and him, their adventure ended on an exit from the road (4-2), marked by health concerns from within. Victim of a sprained left ankle, he aggravated this injury in the previous round against the Cavs and did not have his usual performance against the Heat: only 19 points on 41% on shots and 10 rebounds.
Operated since, the left-hander has, despite his state of health, been targeted for his poor performance during this playoff campaign. In office since 2019 in New York, Randle, who will appreciate this offseason for ” digest everything that happened during the year » and take « time to slow down and think “, is now a regular at the level of requirement of the local scene.
” Frankly I love it. It made me the player I am today. It pushes me. It all depends on how you see things. It’s been hard for some people, for my family, for me “, enumerates the player of 28 years, in the podcast of Paul George picked up by the New York Post.
” But the Garden is a different monster. It taught me a lot more about myself, as a player and humanly. I’ve grown a lot, but this stuff makes you old. It’s kind of like when you see the president and he looks great. And four years later, he looks old as hell. That’s how I feel right now », Image thus Randle, who arrived from the Pelicans in 2019.
Demanding but grateful fans
When asked about the results of his four years at the Knicks, the two-time All-Star is ironic: ” First off, if you want a lesson, no thumbs down. It didn’t work well for me. It was precisely the gesture he had used to target the Garden fans, who had whistled the team one evening in January 2022.
” That’s what’s the craziest… When you observe that, through the prism of the media, you say to yourself that it’s complicated to be here. But I walk around town all the time, and there’s so much affection. The fans, the face-to-face contacts, it’s crazy how much love there is. We didn’t win anything, we made it to the second round, and they’re so grateful “, displays despite everything the interior, under contract in New York at least until 2025.
“ They haven’t won in 50 years, but that’s what made me want to go out there, take the challenge, try to win. That was the main reason. That’s what motivates me. We got a little taste of that as a team, so we’re wondering how we can improve. “Says Randle again, whose training should experience new changes to try to aim a little higher.
| Julius Randle | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2014-15 | ALL | 1 | 14 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 2015-16 | ALL | 81 | 28 | 42.9 | 27.8 | 71.5 | 2.1 | 8.1 | 10.2 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 11.4 |
| 2016-17 | ALL | 74 | 29 | 48.8 | 27.0 | 72.3 | 2.0 | 6.6 | 8.6 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 13.2 |
| 2017-18 | ALL | 82 | 27 | 55.8 | 22.2 | 71.8 | 2.2 | 5.8 | 8.0 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 16.1 |
| 2018-19 | NOP | 73 | 31 | 52.4 | 34.4 | 73.1 | 2.2 | 6.5 | 8.7 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 21.4 |
| 2019-20 | NYK | 64 | 33 | 46.0 | 27.7 | 73.3 | 2.4 | 7.4 | 9.7 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 19.5 |
| 2020-21 | NYK | 71 | 38 | 45.6 | 41.1 | 81.1 | 1.2 | 9.0 | 10.2 | 6.0 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 24.1 |
| 2021-22 | NYK | 72 | 35 | 41.1 | 30.8 | 75.6 | 1.7 | 8.2 | 9.9 | 5.1 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 20.1 |
| 2022-23 | NYK | 77 | 36 | 45.9 | 34.3 | 75.7 | 1.8 | 8.1 | 10.0 | 4.1 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 25.1 |
| Total | 595 | 32 | 47.0 | 33.6 | 74.5 | 2.0 | 7.4 | 9.4 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 18.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
