Knicks: Julius Randle is playing how Carmelo Anthony should’ve played

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle has been playing like an All-Star. His game is reminding fans of what could’ve been for Carmelo Anthony.

Don’t shoot the messenger! As a long-time supporter/defender of Carmelo Anthony, it feels weird to mention Melo and Julius Randle in the same sentence. That being said, the numbers don’t lie. The former Kentucky-standout is playing the way fans wanted Melo to play for years. And even if Randle doesn’t have Melo’s reputation as a scorer, his playmaking, defense, and sacrifice for his team has fans excited for the 2020-2021 New York Knicks.

Melo’s tenure with the orange and blue was filled with many highs and lows. Despite that, long-time broadcaster and fan-favorite, Walt “Clyde” Frazier never wavered on Anthony’s potential. Melo’s ability to score the basketball was never in question. But even after the newly appointed general manager, Scott Perry traded the nine-time All-Star, Clyde was transparent regarding his initial hopes Melo.

Back in 2017, during an appearance on the Mike Francesca show, Frazier explained,

"“I thought they should’ve kept him, but I also thought he should’ve tried to be more of a team player,” he said. “I always told him he should have been a 20/10/5 guy. But he wanted the 28, 29 points, not the rebounds, not getting guys involved.”"

During his seven years in New York, Anthony averaged 23.3 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game. Overall, Melo shot 44 percent from the field and 36 percent from the three-point line. Truth be told, I always felt Melo got a raw deal from the fans. He played with a billion different teammates, numerous coaches, and survived several different front-office regimes. However, Anthony always had the ability to be a better playmaker and defender.

And while the sample size is small, Randle..yes JULIUS RANDLE, is playing the exact way that Melo was capable of playing.

1) Julius Randle’s Playmaking:

Julius Randle has been the conductor of the Knicks offense, showcasing his versatility as a passer. He has made plays on the break, from the post, and while driving to the basket. Averaging just under seven assists per game, Randle, according to Cleaning the Glass, also ranks within the 98th percentile in assists percentage. And if you look at the tape, it’s not too hard to see why.

The Knicks have not been a good transition team. However, when Randle leads the break, good things happen. Coach Tom Thibodeau has preached building winning habits, like knowing where you’re supposed to be on the court, and cutting when you don’t have the ball. Randle’s ability to find his teammates is only matched by the Knicks’ wings sprinting to their spots, ready to shoot.

Randle has also been a good facilitator when operating out of the high post. I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between how he holds the ball over his head (ala Melo) before making his move to the basket. But, instead of settling for several jab-steps and a contested mid-range jumper, Randle is letting the game come to him, making the easy pass. Now, in Melo’s defense, we all remember some of his teammates looking like statues on the perimeter while he did his thing. But the willingness to share the ball has been a constant for Randle this season.

The seven-year man out of Kentucky currently ranks 11th in the league in assists per game and seventh in total assists. And while Randle’s renaissance in dishing is not the only surprising part of his game this season, it might be the most important as the Knicks have played above expectations in December/January.

2) Julius Randle’s Defense

The Thibs effect is real. The Knicks are playing better defense, at least in spurts, and have even survived with Randle playing big minutes as a small-ball five. Per Basketball-Reference, Randle is also posting the best defensive box-plus-minus of his career.

Indiana Pacer forward Domantas Sabonis has been on a tear, averaging over 20 points per game, while shooting 56 percent from the floor. But during the second matchup with the Knicks, Sabonis was held in check, with just 13 points on four made field goals and four free-throw attempts. The reason…Randle’s defense.

Even on Melo’s best day in a New York Knicks uniform, he posted a defensive box-plus-minus of -0.2, significantly less than Randle’s 1.0, albeit with a small sample size. Current assistant head coach Mike Woodson was probably the most successful at getting Anthony to buy in on the defensive end, and it seems that the partnership of Woody and Thibodeau has paid a similar dividend for Randle.

A Thibs-coached team always rebounds the ball. Thibs has often talked about gang-rebounding, but another area where Julius Randle has been leading the charge for his team is around the boards.

The do-it-all forward has had seven out of nine games with double-digit rebound totals and 16 rebound game during a massive win against the Utah Jazz. Anthony, during his Knicks years, averaged just over eight boards during the 2013-2014 season and 7.7 rebounds per game during the 2015-2016 season. Randle is currently averaging 12 rebounds a game.

Conclusion:

Shockingly, the NBA, which just recently released it’s top MVP candidates, omitted Randle, who is playing the best basketball of his career. But that’s only going to serve as motivation for the Knicks top man. Current trainer, Tyler Relph, who has known Randle since he was a teenager, was a guest on the Hoops Addicts Anonymous podcast. Relph, who saw the list, personally contacted Randle, as he does before and after every game, and sent him a five-word text.

It said, “We have more work to do”.

Randle has taken his role as leader very seriously, and his work over the summer has clearly paid off. Carmelo Anthony will always be loved in New York because he chose the organization, even though they certainly gave up a lot to get him. But if Randle’s current production continues, and he leads the Knicks to a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, Knicks fans might need to choose him for our future.