New York Knicks: Player grades through first 1/4 of the season
By Adam Kester
New York Knicks Player Grades: Julius Randle — C-
Julius Randle has taken on the role of the New York Knicks leader and that doesn’t just mean the go-to option on the court. It means you’re being placed under a microscope by the media. It means with every passing week you’re at the center of constant criticism, unrealistic expectations, trade rumors, and praise. It’s a never-ending smattering of news stories.
We saw it with Carmelo Anthony and we see it now with Julius Randle, he is the centerpiece of the New York Knicks.
After an All-NBA season, he’s taken a step back.
The expectations for Randle this season were really to play at the same level as last season but also to show some growth as a playmaker. Randle is a fantastic passer for his size but he’s incredibly inconsistent, especially under pressure. It feels like he hasn’t learned all that much from the Atlanta Hawks series.
It’s important to note the change in the starting lineup — Randle has been playing with new teammates Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier to start the season, and the chemistry hasn’t been there.
Randle isn’t the sole person to blame for the struggles of the Knicks starters but he is at the center of it.
His shooting numbers have dropped. The 3-point percentage is down from 41.1% all the way down to 32.5%. His per-game totals are down. Almost all of his numbers are down.
It’s also the big moments — Picking up technical fouls, consistently missing clutch free throws, the New York Knicks need a lot more from their leader.
There’s still plenty of time for Julius Randel to pick things up and it looks like the recent changes to the starting lineup have gotten him back on track.