New York Knicks’ Julius Randle making the most of his playing opportunities

Often in life, success comes when people make the most of an opportunity when they are given a bigger role in the workplace.

It’s the hugely simplified, straightforward and metaphorical version of how Julius Randle flaunts All-Star-caliber numbers as we approach quarterback of a surprisingly respectable New York Knicks season, according to Portland head coach. Trail Blazers, Terry Stotts.

At the start of Sunday’s game at the Moda Center, the 26-year-old tall man is averaging 22.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game on 47.9% shots from the field and a rating of 33.8% out of three that still needs tweaking. The three counting stats are all career best for the 6-foot-8 Randle, now more than successful in his 6th full season in the league.

“I don’t know how much he’s changed,” Stotts said ahead of Sunday’s game, Portland’s first since Monday after a two-game home streak with Memphis was postponed due to health protocol issues and safety with the Grizzlies. “The ball is no longer in his hands.”

Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks play a lot with Randle, Stotts said, but the University of Kentucky’s 27.2% use rate of proceeds is 36th-highest in the NBA, a check mark below his mark of 27, 6 last season under David Fizdale and Mike Miller with New York and under his 27.8 rates in his one-year stint with Alvin Gentry’s New Orleans Pelicans. Yet Randle’s 29.3% assist rate eclipses his previous career high of 19.3% set with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2016-17 season and ranks 25th in the league, a shade below. Kyrie Irving’s 29.5.

“Randle really became a goalscorer, a playmaker, a rebounder,” said Stotts. “It just looks like he’s really suited the role as the primary focus of their attack.”

After being selected by the Lakers with the 7th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Randle suffered a late-season leg injury in the first regular-season game of his career. He played a grand total of 14 minutes.

He was primarily a starter in his next two seasons with Los Angeles, averaging a double-double in 2015-16 on a weird and really bad team alongside the late Kobe Bryant in his final season, with Jordan Clarkson, D ‘Angelo Russell, Roy Hibbert and Lou Williams also playing key roles. After Kobe retired, Randle averaged 13.2 points, 8.6 tables and 3.6 dimes per game as Los Angeles struggled again.

At just 23, Randle started fewer games in 2017-18 as the Lakers embraced a younger core led by Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma. LA let Randle go as they signed LeBron James and he signed a one-year, $ 8.6 million contract with New Orleans to try and bolster his value. And it worked. He averaged 21.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, winning a three-year, $ 60 million contract with the Knicks with an unsecured third year.

Randle almost averaged 20 and 10 with New York last year, but he didn’t really help 3rd pick overall RJ Barrett develop as a rookie and generally hampered spacing while playing bad. defense as the Knicks struggled.

“His early years as a young player with the Lakers, the New Orleans experience was different for him,” Stotts said. “But certainly his versatility as a big mobile man who can play indoors and outdoors, I think everyone saw him early in his career.”

Randle has mentioned trying to improve himself every year of his career, but he’s considerably better at being in the right place on the pitch, running the ground with determination while opening up spacing and driving lanes for his teammates with quick and targeted passes. Without his jump to All-Star this year, the Knicks wouldn’t be far from their hopeful 8-9 start.

“I always thought he was a very good player for his size. He can handle, he can get to the basket, he can drive both ways, ”Stotts said. “I think a lot of times with the players it’s important to find and get an opportunity.”

It’s certainly important this season for Randle, who has been a surprising revelation as one of the league’s most improved players of the pandemic season.