Mar 22, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) looks on from the bench during the first quarter against the Miami Heat at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: New York Knicks at Miami Heat
(New York, NY) – Julius Randle has started looking like his old self again – which is music to New York Knicks fans ears, after he came out of the gate looking rusty. According to a recent report, we may now know why. Stefan Bondy writes in the New York Post that Randle was more or less operating at “70%” during the season’s opening games – while dealing with the pain associated with offseason ankle surgery.
Randle hurt his ankle last year toward the end of the regular season and missed some time, then re-aggravated the injury during the playoffs. Bondy, writing in the Post, says Randle was limited during the season’s opening six games, due to the pain associated with his arthroscopic surgery.
And perhaps it’s not a coincidence that during that stretch, the Knicks went 2-4. Randle failed to score above 20 points in that time, and shot just 27% on field goals, and 23% from beyond the 3-point line. Bondy quoted a source who indicated Randle’s poor health was unlikely to keep him from playing. “He’s too proud to sit,” the source told the basketball scribe. The 28-year-old Dallas native has reportedly rebuffed efforts in the past aimed at “load management.”
Addressing the scheduled rest topic, Randle previously explained, “I have my own science. I just put way too much into my body, for me personally to cheat myself out of being available for my team.”
Over the past two games, both Knicks wins, Randle has seen his field goal percentage rise to 43%. And from deep he’s shot 36% over the same time period.
Randle is also receiving extended rest at the moment as a result of the Knicks schedule – as they next play Sunday, November 12, against the Charlotte Hornets.
