Randle ready for good break
Julius Randle still has a metal rod holding together his leg. The doctors told him it was unbreakable “like a bionic leg,” he said. The surgery was a consequence of Randle’s first game as a hyped rookie with the Lakers, when his leg gave way and he crumbled to the court.
Players on the court reported hearing a “pop” as Randle, the seventh overall pick, broke his tibia in that regular-season debut. Two weeks from Monday will be the fifth anniversary of Randle’s injury, and, in many ways, his career is just now getting back on track.
For the Knicks, Randle and his bionic leg now represent the marquee $63 million signing, the go-to scorer and freelance facilitator as a point-forward. Heading into this season, the 25-year-old set a goal of becoming the first Knick since Carmelo Anthony to actually play in an All-Star game.
“I just feel like situation and opportunity. Everything I’ve been through in the past, all the work I’ve put in in the past has prepared me for this opportunity now,” Randle said. “So it’s just a goal of mine. Eventually you feel like you have an opportunity. I feel like I do.”
Of course, the accolades will be determined by the success of the Knicks. It’s not a comforting condition since most believe the Knicks are destined for another lottery-bound campaign. But if they manage to finish in the top 8, Randle will be a big reason why. Perhaps the biggest reason. “(The playoffs are) extremely important. I’m not going to sit here and talk about every day, but it’s extremely important,” he said. “That’s what you work hard for. You talk about opportunity, this is my opportunity to be a real leader.
“So I just want to make sure everybody’s connected and we get better every day. I like our team compared to a lot of other teams. We do what we need to do every day to get better, that mental focus, lock in, stay connected, I like our team.”
Despite that nasty injury to start his career, Randle has missed just 18 games in the last four seasons. Durability is a strength. He said muscle memory and recovering a basketball rhythm were the most difficult aspects of his rehabilitation.
Still, the Lakers gave up on Randle after his fourth season. Much of the NBA did, as well. He signed a deal with the Pelicans last year that L.A. declined to match, and then used his time in New Orleans to remind everybody about the potential.
“I definitely feel like I proved to myself that I got better,” said Randle, who averaged 21.4 points and 8.7 boards with the Pelicans last season. “That’s really what’s encouraging through the whole process, you work extremely hard and prove to yourself that you can get better. You want to make the changes throughout the summer and the season to get better and then you make the changes. That’s more motivation than anything to keep going, like how far can I take this thing?”
Criticisms of Randle remain. His defense has been subpar. His 3-point shot and playmaking aren’t good enough to justify him dominating the ball. He has never been on a winning team.
If nothing else, this season with the Knicks will provide the best glimpse of his potential as an NBA star. The opportunity to run a squad is available at MSG. He was the last Knick off the court Monday following practice.
Coach David Fizdale believes it’s feasible.
“Absolutely. I think a lot’s got to go right obviously. We’ve got to play good basketball. We’ve got to understand our roles,” Fizdale said. “We’ve got to understand how to help him. But with the way that he approaches the game and his work ethic and his selflessness, I think he’ll have a chance.”