Julius Randle has looked about as happy as a toothache with the New York Knicks this season, and the team is starting to get concerned.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reported on Sunday that the Knicks have internal concerns about Randle’s overall psyche, something that Berman describes as “erratic.” Berman adds that Randle did not arrive at training camp this year in as phenomenal shape as he did last year, which may be contributing to his regression.
Randle, who has seen his averages dip across the board from his All-NBA campaign last season, was ejected from the Knicks’ last game against the Phoenix Suns on Friday for a scrap with Suns forward Cam Johnson. The ejection really hurt the Knicks as they ended up losing by one on a Johnson buzzer-beater. In the last few weeks, Randle has even gotten heated with the team’s coaches as the Knicks have plunged to an ugly 25-38 on the season.
Knicks fans have not been spared from Randle’s ire either, and it has overall been a huge disappointment for the team after Randle led them to their first playoff berth in nearly a decade last year. Even worse is that Randle’s four-year, $117 million extension kicks starting in next year. Meanwhile, 21-year-old RJ Barrett continues to ascend and challenge Randle’s alpha status.
At this time last year, Randle was looking like a franchise guy for the Knicks. Instead, he now looks like a franchise headache in stunningly short order.
Photo: Nov 8, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Mitchell Leff-USA TODAY Sports
