Julius Randle suddenly became the ‘engine’ of the Knicks

Julius Randle, a legitimate All-Star contender, is “the engine” driving the Knicks’ resurgence.

That’s how Randle was described by veteran teammate Austin Rivers and first-year head coach Tom Thibodeau, respectively, after the fledgling power forward and the sudden threat of triple-doubles led the Knicks to their fifth win in six games Wednesday night against Utah at the Garden.

Thibodeau’s arrival and a recognized refocused commitment to his conditioning appear to have unlocked a new level of play for Randle, who was signed by the Knicks to a three-year contract worth $ 62.1 million as as a free agent in 2019.

The former Kentucky star averages career highs of 23.1 points, 12.0 rebounds and, most notably, 7.4 assists per game – while also registering the most NBA minutes (38.6 mpg ) – before Friday’s home game against Oklahoma City.

“It’s our engine. … He does it all, ”Thibodeau said. “Play great minutes, come the next day and work, take care of your body, great with recovery, great in cinema sessions. This is the type of leadership that is invaluable for a team.

“I think when you look at most of the players in this league there is a progression to become that type of player. They just don’t do it overnight. There are stages to be taken along the way, and I think he did.

Randle, 26, made it to training camp in early December “in incredible shape,” added Thibodeau, allowing him to perform heavy minutes on a regular basis while rookie forward Obi Toppin (calf) stays on. difference.

The Lakers’ seventh pick in the 2014 draft averaged 16.1 points and 9.0 boards over his first six NBA seasons. That stretch also included a one-season stoppage alongside Anthony Davis in New Orleans before Randle signed with the Knicks.

Randle has never been called to an All-Star team during his career, but Rivers believes his new teammate has “played at this level so far” in the Knicks’ first 5-3 start since 2013.

“The biggest surprise to me was his vision, his willingness to pass and his conditioning,” said Rivers, a nine-year veteran, after contributing 14 of his 23 points off the bench in the fourth quarter against the Jazz. “It’s in incredible shape for him to do this. He plays most of the game. He does it on both sides. He speaks. He was great for us.

“He’s playing at an All-Star level, you can’t deny that, not at all. So we need him to continue, that’s for sure.

Randle has more than doubled his career assist output, placing seventh in the league in that category until Wednesday, after averaging just 2.8 in his first 375 career games.

“It’s fun for me, honestly,” Randle said after Wednesday’s game. “Seeing my teammates come out of ball screens, transfers or if they pass me in the post or whatever, making the right play and hitting the guys when they’re open is energizing for me and it’s energizing for them. .

“It just makes us play hard for each other on the defensive end. When we all know we’re going to date and make the right play and move on and just play for each other. It’s incredible. We all have fun doing it, and I have fun doing it too.