Westchester Knicks Season Review: Chasson Randle
Chasson Randle played for the Westchester Knicks before receiving multiple call-ups and signing with the New York Knicks. How did he look during his time in the NBAGL?
Many thought Chasson Randle was going to make the New York Knicks opening night roster following a productive Summer League.
But that wasn’t the case.
Randle suffered a left orbital fracture and was waived before the start of the season. Shortly after being waived, the Knicks guard was picked up by the Westchester Knicks as an affiliate player.
Even with the injury, it didn’t stop him from getting to the next level.
Chasson Randle played several games at the beginning of the NBA G League season with a protective face mask. Randle was expected to be the main scorer on the team. While he is more of a shooter, the Knicks were grooming him to be a point guard. In the first two games of the season, Randle record 25-plus point games.
Chasson Randle played a huge role in the team’s success early in the season. Not only was he getting to the line, but the Knicks guard was shooting the ball well.
On Nov. 30, 2016, the NBA G League filmed an all-access with Chasson Randle leading up to the team’s matinee game against the Santa Cruz Warriors.
After spending five of six games at home, Westchester went on a four-game road trip. While the Knicks lost their first two games on the road to the Oklahoma City Blue and Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the team bounced back in the following two games.
In those games against the Texas Legends and Austin Spurs, Chasson Randle had the best games of his NBA G League career. Not only did Randle nearly tie Doron Lamb’s franchise-record 40-point performance, but he was on fire in those games.
In the two games, he averaged 37.0 points, 4.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game on 58.1 percent shooting from the field and 80.0 percent from beyond the arc. After having two impressive performances, Chasson Randle was named the NBA G League Performer of the Week. He became the second Westchester Knick, along with DaJuan Summers, to win that award.
On Dec. 21, 2016, he was ranked at the No. 25 prospect on the NBA G League Prospect Watch. The following week Randle was ranked at the No. 20 prospect on the list. For the week of Jan. 4, 2017, the Knicks guard was ranked as the No. 18 prospect on the NBA G League Prospect Watch.
Chasson Randle was closing in on a call-up.
In the following eight games, Randle was shooting the ball well and distributed the ball.
On Jan. 10, 2017, Chasson Randle became the fourth Westchester Knick to earn a call-up (fifth overall) when he signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. Four days later, he made his debut and recorded three points and one steal in six minutes off the bench. The next game, Randle had his best outing for the 76ers.
The 6-foot-2 guard finished with 10 points and two rebounds on 3-of-6 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from deep. He shot it well overall as the Sixers picked up the win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
After two successful 10-day contracts, the 76ers signed him to a multi-year deal on Jan. 30, 2017. Unfortunately, Randle was waived on Feb. 23 in order to make room for a trade. In eight games with Philadelphia, Randle averaged 5.3 points in 9.3 minutes per game.
Chasson Randle didn’t wait around too long for another opportunity. Four days after being waived by Philadelphia, he was signed by the New York Knicks. Upon signing with the Knicks, Randle said he was excited to be back in the Big Apple.
In his second game in New York, Chasson Randle helped boost the team’s offense against the Orlando Magic. The Knicks put together a 28-point fourth quarter en route to their 26th win of the season.
Kristaps Porzingis and New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek praised Randle’s game. (h/t Al Iannazzone of Newsday)
“We always felt when he becomes available we want to try and get him back,” Hornacek said. “He just knows how to play, does the little things.”
“He’s a guy that is always going to bring energy,” Porzingis said. “He is able to drive to the basket and kick out for shooters. He’s really quick and able to stay in front of guys. He’s the type of player that can help you win games.”
In 18 games with the New York Knicks, he averaged 5.3 points on 38.9 percent shooting from the field in 12.5 minutes per game.
After signing with the Knicks, Randle spent one game in Westchester on assignment. In that game, Randle formed a solid duo with Travis Trice. With both players having the ability to shoot and distribute the ball, the Knicks rode off the production from their backcourt. Randle recorded his first double-double of the NBA G Leagues season. He totaled 23 points and 10 assists, along with five rebounds, on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.
In 20 games with Westchester, Randle averaged 20.9 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.7 rebounds on 42.7 percent shooting from the field and 42.2 from beyond the arc in 32.3 minutes per game. With a minimum of 20 games played, the Stanford product led the team in assists per game and was second (tied with Jordon Crawford) in 3-point percentage.
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Chasson Randle’s journey had come full circle. Randle was expected to make the New York Knicks roster at the beginning of the season, but suffered an injury before for the season tipped off. The Knicks guard worked his tail off with the Westchester Knicks while making the Prospect Watch and earning Performer of the Week in the NBA G League.
After a successful stint in the NBA G League, Randle signed two 10-day contracts and a multi-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. While his stint in Philadelphia was short-lived, Randle was able to have a productive stint with the New York Knicks.