Knicks power forward Julius Randle has returned to an All-Star level of play following a down year during the 2021/22 season. Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News details how the 6’9″ big man adjusted his approach to the game to maximize his abilities yet again.
Randle recently credited a summer 2022 conversation with New York assistant coach Johnnie Bryant, who gave Randle a reality check about his attitude last season.
“He was talking about the year before and said something like, ‘If you were your teammates and saw you acting the way you did sometimes, with body language, showing frustration, would you want to be your teammate?’” Randle recalled. “And I said, ‘No.’ So I had to look myself in the mirror and take accountability and get better and learn from it.”
“He came and saw me and it was more like big brother, little brother, holding me accountable, talking to me, getting my mind right, more than anything,” Randle explained. “He came to me and had an honest conversation. And it helped me put my ego and my pride to the side. And try to adjust my game and look at myself in the mirror and do what’s best for the team.”
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Though it seems likely the Knicks will find a new home for 2018 lottery pick Cam Reddish, who has been out of New York’s rotation for two months, Steve Popper of Newsday wonders if the club will make additional trades by Thursday’s trade deadline.
- Raptors forward Thaddeus Young has been a massive tone-setter for Toronto’s younger players, writes Eric Koreen of The Athletic, who opines that Young’s influence will resonate beyond his time with the club. “Big time vet,” Raptors big man Precious Achiuwa said of the 34-year-old. “Been in the league a long time, and we’re just trying to learn from him as much as we can.”
- Nets point forward Ben Simmons had imaging done on his troublesome knee, but head coach Jacque Vaughn indicates that an MRI revealed nothing particularly worrisome long-term in the ligament, per Nick Friedell of ESPN (Twitter link). Simmons has been unavailable since January 26 as a result of knee soreness.
MRI clinical diagnosis of “boo-boo”. He will probably miss rest of the season.
Julius Randle is being held accountable and he responded great.
Cam Reddish needs a change of scenery very bad.
Thaddeus Young has always been a very solid and versatile two way role player. Him being a leader is no surprise because him and Andre Igoudala been leaders since they was in Philadelphia together.
Ben Simmons is my boy but is confidence is just gone. I hope he can find it. He’s having the worst season of his career at 26 years old.
27.3 minutes
7.4 points
6.5 rebounds
6.4 assists
0.6 blocks
1.4 steals
56.6% FG
44.6% FT
2.4 turnovers
The guy stopped caring one he got his max extension. It’s never been about the game, he just wants the lifestyle.
Wow, the Knicks now have coaches that will tell players not to act like spoiled asses? This is great! I can only imagine what would change in their history had they discovered this practice a long, long time ago.
Better late than never. Well done, Knicks. No wonder they resemble a professional team now.
Thibodeau is not the coach the Knicks need to develop young players
I was only referring to the exchange detailed here with Johnnie Bryant and Randle.
I was only applauding that there was someone to point out at least once how the Knicks employ self indulgent assh0les to those whom it concerns. For one reason or another they have run a breeding ground of such individuals and it’s really long past time for someone to clean up that mess. Maybe Johnnie Bryant can’t fix them all, but the idea he got through to one should be commended.
Randle is having a solid yr. Another all star yr. Yet I still see sulking. And not playing D all the time. He’s still a drama Queen to me. I much rather go with Obi1 and trade Randle.
But it’s painfully clear now. Thibs will ride Randle. So real fans, we have to ride him too. Obi1 can be a real get for another team. I think it’s time to move him. To upgrade this team. The only real star I see we might get is DeRozan. Other than that. I see minor trades for depth. Like a Vanderbilt or Bey. Both who I really like. We do need to make a move or two. Just don’t overpay, please.
DeRozan and Bey and Knicks will be trouble in playoffs.
I agree with u Big Al I would love our beloved NY Knicks to get DeMar DeRozan who even at his age is a mid range sniper who with Brunson Randall and IQ and Grimes shooting we would be a tough out in the playoffs. We already beat Boston Philly Miami and Cleveland top teams in the East so we would be a dangerous first round match up for any team in the East except maybe Milwaukee.
Im proud of Randle this season he is taking ownership for his actions,deserves allstar nod. I like toppin but i would trade him for beasley and Vanderbilt two solid bench pieces who can help us in the playoffs. Trade Reddish for Grayson Allen.
If I were Bryant, I would have focused more on turnovers than body language. Kidding, kind of. The inefficiencies in Randle’s offensive game, and his tendency to space out at the wrong time, can be infuriating. But he checks way to many “hard to check” boxes for us in all phases to dismiss his value. We’ve won games this year mostly due to three players, he, Brunson and Mitch, in that order, and he’s the only one of the three that contributes on both ends. IQ and Grimes are next. Barrett a distant sixth.
If you compare Randles last all star yr to this one. You’d see a more focus player. He held the ball less. He moved it better. And made better decisions. He played with his teammates more.
Just like the playoffs against Hawks. Randle try’s too hard to do right now. He holds the ball too long still. He has this need to be the star. He’s not always on same page with his team. He thinks of himself as a star. Well he’s just our best player, right now. But we can’t win if we don’t get Center D and rebounding. If RJ is not getting at least 16-18 pts. If we don’t get bench scoring and team D. These things right now on this team. Are the most important things. Not his ego or his feelings.
As the so called best player on a team. You help the team play better. You help your teammates where they need it. You can’t look for yours always. Cause if you are a star. You should be able to get yours most times. But your team playing well should come before you getting yours.
See that’s a player who understands winning. Cause you learn to play this gm to win. Not to just show up and play. That’s why he hasn’t won me over.
I agree with u Big Al I would love our beloved NY Knicks to get DeMar DeRozan who even at his age is a mid range sniper who with Brunson Randall and IQ and Grimes shooting we would be a tough out in the playoffs. We already beat Boston Philly Miami and Cleveland top teams in the East so we would be a dangerous first round match up for any team in the East except maybe Milwaukee.
Thibs has no coaching ethics. He should be fired. When was the last time that Cam Reddish played? Dec. 3, 2022. Over 2 months ago. Thibs has allowed Reddish to rot on the bench. How do you allow a young and talented 6’8” wing who plays great defense and is aggressive on offense to ride the bench for over 2 months. It is absolutely despicable to treat a player in this manner, especially one as talented as Reddish. He is a foul coach and a most foul human being. The media does not even confront Thibs on this issue. I guess Thibs is protected by MSG who controls the media. The media is instructed that you may only ask this dysfunctional coach soft questions or we will use our facial recognition technology to ban you and to throw you out of the Garden. You are not allowed to question Thibs on why he allows Resdish to rot on the bench. A dysfunctional coach will never win you a championship! Nor will the Knicks ever win a championship as long as Dolan remains the owner. The NBA should force the sale of this once proud franchise.
FINALLY!!! Someone hit the nail in the head!!!
That is our main problem, thibs is not the right coach for this team. Oh, by the way I personally think that we will regret big time when we trade Reddish and then see him flourish somewhere else!