NY Knicks: 4 Reasons Julius Randle Deserves MIP Award

NY Knicks: How Does Julius Randle Compare to Previous Award Winners?

Whether it is right or wrong, we often compare one year’s award winners to their predecessors to evaluate their worth.

I do this with movies all the time. (I’m constantly miffed at the fact that no Tarantino movie has ever won Best Picture. Also, I’d take the 70s as a decade of Best Picture Winners over any other decade. Both Godfathers, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Rocky, and Annie Hall? Forget about it.)

Some interesting things start to pop up as we look back to previous winners of this award.

Like I’ve argued, I’m operating under the assumption that the MIP Award is Julius Randle’s. When–not if–he wins, how would he rank historically?

I’ve also argued that impacting winning should be one of the major factors considered when voters start casting ballots.

Julius Randle’s 6.2 Win Shares would rank 26th out of 36 MIP Award winners all-time.

Age is also a factor here as the perception is that this award is typically given to young players on the cusp of going off in their careers. There is some truth to that perception as Julius Randle would be one of the eight oldest players to ever win the award.

In terms of individual statistics, though, Randle measures up really nicely. He would have the fifth-highest points per game total of any player to win the award behind Tracy McGrady (2001), Danny Granger (2009), Dale Ellis (1987), and Brandon Ingram (2020).

His rebound numbers aren’t anything to sneeze at either. Those would be third all-time behind only Kevin Love (2011) and Pervis Ellison (1992).

In fact, he’d be only the seventh person ever to average a double-double in the year they won Most Improved Player.

He’d be the only person to ever win the award and average at least 20 points, at least 10 rebounds, and at least five assists.

Lastly, and most importantly, Julius Randle would be the first member of the New York Knicks to ever win this award.