Capable of going off the road and other bloody slips, Julius Randle remains a formidable player, capable of destroying defenses with his athleticism and his versatility. A profile that inevitably appeals to Tom Thibodeau, who did not fail to highlight the work ethic of his star after the last preseason match.
“That’s what makes him the player he is. He is never satisfied. And so, if you look at his career, he’s progressed every year. So he just keeps growing”, did he slip while Julius Randle had just compiled 20 points (at 8/15 shooting) and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes despite a defeat against a raging Jordan Poole.
Still lots of things to work on
As he enters his 10th season in the NBA and will soon be 29 years old, Julius Randle is still trying to move in the right direction. Above all, there are always challenges to achieve this.
“For me, it’s about continuing to find ways to be more efficient, whether it’s going to my spots, taking my shots, and that’s what I’m trying to achieve. When I break down the defense and get to a certain place, where it’s then a matter of shooting or passing, that’s what I have to continue to work on.”
In Tom Thibodeau’s mind too, Julius Randle has room for improvement, starting with outside shooting.
“I think there’s a lot of subtlety in his game, and he’s worked hard on his shooting, and his explosiveness towards the rim,” his coach pointed out. “No one wants to see Julius Randle get closer to the rim. I know this from having coached against him, but I think the addition of the 3-point shot was huge for him. Drawing fouls was also very important. And then it allows him to get easy baskets. He’s already a great athlete. If he moves up the field and manages to move without the ball, the game will be even easier for him.”
The external threat, the key to its next step
Among his many objectives, there will be this desire to exceed 35% 3-point success to embody more of a threat for opposing defenses on this point. For the moment, his game remains conditioned by the condition of his ankle, which he admits continues to treat and which therefore offers him less explosiveness.
“Yes, I’m still healing myself. It’s still a process,” he admitted. “I’m not going to lie and say I’m back 100%, but I feel pretty good, pretty confident and I continue to get stronger day after day, week after week. If there’s one thing this rehabilitation process has taught me, it’s that you have to take things one day at a time. I continue to see improvements day after day.”
Hence the interest in refining your 3-point skills, provided you take good shots.
“I have to try to get the easiest shot possible, but at this stage of my career, all those shots are just repetition. That’s why I keep doing it, repeating the gesture, taking care of my footwork and trying to find ways to get it.”
As with Jalen Brunson, the inside also knows that whatever happens, he will be continually pushed by his coach, who will encourage him to always aim higher, and to continue to progress.
“I believe that great players add something to their game every year” thus estimates the technician. “It’s about not being complacent and understanding the commitment it takes, like Jalen Brunson has done throughout his career. So I don’t expect that to change. And that’s what I love about him and Julius, they’re both incredible workers. They don’t miss a workout. They don’t miss games, and that’s why they continue to improve. “
| Julius Randle | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2014-15 | LAL | 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 | LAL | 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 | LAL | 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 | LAL | 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 = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
