New York Knicks: 3 Takeaways from the preseason

New York Knicks: Julius Randle looks like his old self

Randle’s 2021 season was spectacular, winning the Most Improved Player award in a landslide. However, some questions surfaced regarding the sustainability of his newfound three-point shooting and whether he could handle big crowds after dominating a year in which hardly any fans were in stadiums.

Those concerns only amplified after his disappointing playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks in which he shot just 29.8% from the field and averaged more turnovers than assists.

Through preseason action, Randle has continued to dominate almost exactly like last season. With less of a playmaking burden placed upon him due to some solid additions in free agency, he’s been able to focus almost entirely on scoring.

In 3 contests, he averaged 23.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 49% from the field and 39% from three.

His shooting ability off the dribble remains one of the best in the league amongst power forwards, using his improved handle to threaten a drive in order to create space before pulling up from just beyond the top of the key.

Even if Randle’s assist numbers decrease, he should become an extremely efficient three-level scorer who can also drop an occasional dime. It isn’t hard to imagine the 26-year old suiting up for his second consecutive All-Star appearance in 2022.