Knicks ‘Optimistic’ Julius Randle Will Play Again This Season

According to NBA insider Ian Begley of SNY, the New York Knicks are “optimistic” Julius Randle will play again this season.

Randle suffered a dislocated right shoulder on January 27 against the Miami Heat. 

“I’ve heard during this period that there’s been some positive progression here during the rehab and I think that’s left people with even more reason to be optimistic that Randle will be back at some point this season,” Begley said on Thursday’s episode of The Putback with Ian Begley. “I don’t know if they’re out of the woods yet, but certainly the progress that he has made over the last couple of weeks during this rehab stretch has left people excited about the possibility of him coming back.”

Randle is averaging 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks this season while shooting 47.2% from the field, 31.1% from beyond the arc and 78.1% from the free-throw line. He has 18 double-doubles and one triple-double. 

The Knicks are 33-22 on the season. They are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. 

Randle was named an All-Star this season for the third time in his career. He’s 19th in the NBA in points per game and 16th in rebounds per game.

The Knicks signed Randle to a four-year, $117 million extension in August 2021. The Kentucky product is making $25.7 million this season. 

If Randle doesn’t return this season, the Knicks won’t compete for a title. The lefty is one of the best players in the NBA. He has a plus-minus of +219 in 2023-24. 

The 29-year-old Randle joined the Knicks in the summer of 2019. He’s averaging 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks in a New York uniform. Randle won the 2020-21 Most Improved Player of the Year Award.