Mar 12, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: New York Knicks at Los Angeles Lakers
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks will be without one of their star players for the postseason.
The Knicks announced Thursday that forward Julius Randle will undergo season-ending right shoulder surgery (per ESPN.)
Doctors had warned Randle that there was too much instability in his shoulder to allow him to play again this season without risking permanent damage; after surgery, they will re-evaluate him in five months.
“The journey is the journey. Just keep going. It is what you think it is,” Randle wrote on his Instagram after the news broke.
The three-time NBA All-Star has been out of the Knicks’ lineup since Jan. 27 after dislocating his shoulder, spending the past two-plus months rehabbing in an attempt to avoid surgery and return for the playoffs.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Randle is expected to be ready for the start of the 2024-25 season, as surgery now will allow for the appropriate recovery time to return.
Randle had played in all of the Knicks’ 46 games before getting injured against the Miami Heat. The 29-year-old averaged 24 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5 assists per game before being forced out of play stemming from the injury.
He had 19 consecutive games with 20 points or more at one point this season, the longest streak of his career.
