New update emerges on Julius Randle’s injury timetable

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

The New York Knicks appear to have caught a real break with Julius Randle’s injury.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Monday that there is optimism within the Knicks that Randle’s timeline for a return will be measured in weeks and not months. Wojnarowski adds that Randle underwent an MRI on Saturday night and that there is hope that he will be able to avoid a surgical procedure.

The two-time All-NBA big man Randle hurt his right shoulder in Saturday’s victory against the Miami Heat. He was going up for a shot attempt in the fourth quarter when he crashed to the floor awkwardly and landed on his shoulder (video here).

Randle, 29, is New York’s best non-Jalen Brunson scorer (averaging 24.0 points per game this season) and is also a ferocious rebounder as well as a strong secondary playmaker. On top of that, Randle is generally extremely durable, even resisting attempts by the Knicks to load-manage him earlier this year.

The good news for Randle is that he is left-handed (the injury was to his other shoulder) and that the All-Star break is coming up, giving the Knicks a full week off from Feb. 14 onward. Though the 29-17 Knicks will still really miss Randle for the next several games (likely forcing them to insert Josh Hart into the starting lineup and/or slide OG Anunoby up a position), the worst-case scenario seems to have been avoided here.