Julius Randle’s career night shows his potential stardom is key to Knicks’ future

For the first time in nearly two months, the New York Knicks won two games in a row. New York traveled from Los Angeles to Sacramento and was led by Julius Randle’s 46 points in a 131-115 win.

Randle, who was drafted by the Lakers in 2014, averaged 29 points in the four games that the Knicks played in California this season. He capped it off with a career-high on Monday night which included 33 points in the second half.

New York is known for its collapses in the third and fourth quarter but that wasn’t the case against the Kings. The Knicks were the ones who came back from a 20-point deficit and eluded what’s grown to be inevitable for the second-straight night.

RJ Barrett’s been the star since the start of 2022 but Randle proved that when he’s hot, he’s a force to be reckoned with. That’s why New York made the playoffs last year and although the team’s still 4.5 games back from the play-in tournament, the Knicks haven’t been eliminated from the postseason.

I know that this is a huge reach but if Randle can play like he did in Sacramento for the remaining 17 regular-season games, New York will be set. We can dream.

Julius Randle has career-high night in New York Knicks win over Sacramento.

Regardless of Randle’s inconsistencies this season and the amount of criticism that he’s received from MSG’s faithful, there’s no denying that he makes the Knicks better. That could be said after any player around the league shoots 18-of-31 from the floor, though, but New York needs Randle.

Tom Thibodeau is well-aware of that. After the win, he said (subscription required):

"“I just think when he plays with that type of intensity, it lifts everyone,” Thibodeau said. “He was attacking the basket. He was shooting the 3. He was making hustle plays. It was a great all-around game for him in so many different ways. So, that was huge.”"

Even with its previous two wins, New York has lost 17 of its last 22 games. Ironically enough, three of those five wins came in California and the other two wins happened in Manhattan against California based teams.

If the Knicks’ 82 game regular-season schedule was solely made up of teams from The Golden State, New York would be a force and Randle would once again be one of the top players in the league.

Not only did he finish with a career-high in points but in 3-pointers as well. Randle shot 8-of-16 from beyond the arc. Oh, and did I mention that only two of his points came from the free throw line? Sheesh.

The East Coast fans who stayed up late to watch the late 10:30 p.m. tip most certainly deserved that All-Star caliber performance. If only it was going to be used as a catalyst for a promising playoff run.

The Knicks will have a chance to bolster their roster during the offseason and will try to rebound from what has quickly evolved into a disappointing year.

Randle’s four-year, $117 million extension will restrict New York from what it can do this summer but the Knicks will have relief if the forward can be more consistent next season. Regardless of his dip in production this year, the team’s at their best when Randle is and Monday night showed that.

Knicks must stagger RJ Barrett and Julius Randle’s minutes

The New York Knicks have struggled as of late and it would be wise to experiment and stagger the minutes of RJ Barrett and Julius Randle.