New York Knicks: 3 key factors in a trade for Terrence Ross

3) New York Knicks: Ross has healthy relationship with Julius Randle

This point is a bit of speculation. But hear me out. There was an odd moment that occurred between Ross and Julius Randle during their first matchup of the 2021-2022 season.

The New York Knicks star forced a late-game steal and attacked the basket on the fast break. Magic big Wendell Carter Jr pursued and fouled Randle on a dunk attempt. It seemed like a routine sequence until Randle became visibly upset and shoved Carter after the play. He then pointed toward the scoreboard and clock, sitting that the game was too out of hand for such a play. The Knicks led 114-83 with less than five minutes of game action remaining.

What happened next caught the eye of the camera crew and the New York media. In the heat of the skirmish, Ross can clearly be seen grabbing Randle from behind and applying a headlock motion.

Ross’ body language and Randle’s lack of reaction indicated that it was lighthearted. It did however spark questions about the relationship between the two veterans. Here’s the clip if you haven’t seen it:

The two have never played together on an NBA roster. They also did not cross paths in college. The four-year age gap would indicate that they would have never shared a high school or AAU court.

In the wrong setting, a headlock during a heated moment in a game would lead to absolute chaos. Imagine such a scene with players with a tension-filled history.

It would be unwise to speculate too much about the nature of Ross and Randle’s relationship. But this interaction shows the two would be capable of getting along well.