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NY Knicks: 3 players who could lead team in assists this season

By Brad Dressler

NY Knicks, Julius Randle, James Harden Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NY Knicks, Julius Randle, James Harden Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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NY Knicks, Julius Randle, Kemba Walker, Derrick Rose
NY Knicks, Julius Randle, Kemba Walker, Derrick Rose (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Will Julius Randle lead the NY Knicks in assists again this season?

The obvious choice would of course be last year’s team leader in assists, Julius Randle. He’ll be looking to capitalize off of last year’s success and double down in 2021.

There are arguments to be made on both sides, as in whether he can replicate last year’s numbers and lead the team or if he’ll take a substantial dip.

Last season, Randle was meant to be the focal point of the offense but wasn’t necessarily supposed to facilitate as much as he was tasked to do.

It seemed like it was more about the hand the Knicks were dealt and he led the team in that category by complete chance of circumstance.

The team had to deal with a young. developing RJ Barrett who could one day become a great creator for others.

But because he’s still got a lot of kinks to work out in the playmaking department, RJ wasn’t asked to make a lot of plays for his teammates.

They also had two non-playmakers on the court with Randle most of the time in Reggie Bullock and Mitchell Robinson.

The guy who was supposed to facilitate the offense, Elfrid Payton, outright just sucked at everything and was a net negative more often than not.

So is Julius Randle that good of a playmaker? Or did he just take on the responsibility out of necessity?

This season will answer those questions, I hope.

Now, going into this new season, the Knicks’ front office put an emphasis on guys who can distribute the ball well in picking up players like Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier.

They also brought back Derrick Rose who could share the court with Randle from time to time as well as Alec Burks over Reggie Bullock due to his higher level of playmaking and offensive creation.

Randle could very well lose a lot of his playmaking responsibilities to any of those guys I just mentioned and be used as more of a bucket-getter.

But with a whole new cast of shooters and scorers surrounding him, there’s a great chance Randle could once again lead the team in dimes.

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