Appearing on the latest episode of the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast (YouTube link), Knicks forward Julius Randle spoke about the frustrating process of trying to rehab his right shoulder injury during the second half of the 2023/24 season in the hopes of making it back for the playoffs, only to ultimately opt for season-ending surgery.
“I’m rehabbing for two-and-a-half months, knowing my shoulder ain’t good,” Randle said (hat tip to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. “So it’s a situation where it’s like, ‘Do I play and know that I’m going to miss six or seven months after we’re done playing?’ So I’m probably not playing until the next year. And I’m not good. So can I help the team? I don’t think I can get a rebound. I can’t fall. I feel like if I fall my shoulder is going to come out. So I’m dealing with that.
“I’m also dealing with the part like I feel selfish, like I’m letting the guys down. Then it came to the point where I don’t even want to be around because I’m trying to work to come back but I feel like I’m a distraction. I feel like an outcast. I’m like, let me just stay away, they’re doing great, let me just be around and support when I can. So I had to get out of my own way of my own ego and be like, all right, once I made that decision, deal with it, and keep moving and support the best way you can. But that s–t was tough.”
Randle underwent surgery on his troublesome shoulder in early April, with the Knicks announcing that he would be reevaluated in five months. That would put his evaluation on track for early September, with no guarantee that the star forward will be ready for training camp a few weeks later. However, Randle suggested he feels good about the progress he’s made — and about his chances of being ready to go in the fall.
“I’m getting there. It’s a process. It’s something that’s going to take a long time. I knew that going into it,” he said. “But I’m ahead of schedule, I’m feeling good. I’m healthy. I’ll be ready when the season starts.”
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reported earlier today that the Sixers are among the teams that have talked to the Bulls about Zach LaVine, then reiterated that report in a story published this evening following Chicago’s Alex Caruso/Josh Giddey trade agreement with Oklahoma City. However, a league source tells Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link) that Philadelphia isn’t interested in pursuing LaVine.
- UConn’s Tristen Newton was among the prospects who took part in the Sixers‘ pre-draft workout on Thursday, tweets Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Newton is the No. 66 prospect on ESPN’s big board.
- Eben Novy-Williams and Scott Soshnick of Sportico provide more information on the minority stake that Julia Koch and her family are buying in BSE Global, the parent company of the Nets. The deal will include $688MM in cash, per Sportico, with much of that money being put toward outstanding debts.
- Brad Stevens coached a number of the players who helped lead the Celtics to a title this spring and acquired several of the others. Michael Pina of The Ringer takes a look at the role the head-coach-turned-executive played in Boston winning its record-setting 18th championship.
No one wants LaVine.
Yup. And now that monk resigned, primary possibility in kings is off the table. Bulls’ best hope is that Philly/Orlando strike out on everyone, with pistons as the backup dumping ground
I think Zach definitely gets moved now.
Let’s go Detroit ……. just do it
Detroit is best place for him. He can help them build a playoff team there.
He’s never built a playoff team anywhere. It certainly wouldn’t happen in Detroit. He’s been to the playoffs once in his ten year career despite how easy it is to make the NBA playoffs.
Depressingly ironic that the bulls traded jimmy for him, Zach and Jimmy are polar opposites as far as the playoff identity u mention lmao
If you think it takes one player to build a playoff team. You probably should go to MLB …….
Zach needs a new team. He’s a proven top scorer in NBA. That helps Pistons build a playoff team. Not built around Zach. Pistons need vets.
How, he couldn’t help Chicago build one.
In seven seasons with Bulls ……
34.5 mins, .383% (3PT), .471% FG,
.837% FT, 24.2 pts . One of top scorers in the NBA. And you want him to be BronGM too. Not his job to build a team. Get a clue then you might get answers on your own.
Bulks couldn’t give LaVine away
Yeah I agree ??????
WTF are Bulks …..
As a long suffering Knicks fan. I’d really like to see. Randle, OG, IHart, Mitch, Achiuwa, Bogdanovic all play. That’s a deep front line. Imo depth is undervalued in today’s gm.
You know how you have your best team by playoffs. By going ten deep. Your team is fresher. And your bench is ready to go. Every team carries 15 players. No reason not to go ten deep.
Agree with all except Mitch. He’s been rehabbing an injury most of his career. He’s due for a change of scenery.
My opinion on Randles game has shifted over the years, early on I think he was underrated, now I think overrated. Just in terms of is he an all-star caliper player, he could be the 3/4th best player on a championship team, but he can’t be 1 or 2. This interviews perspective and honesty makes me want to root for him as a person.
He made notable progress this year in playing better basketball – fewer tough three pointers and post fades, more drives and shots near the rim, didn’t press as much as previous years though that also had to do with Brunson’s ascension. His averages for the month of January after getting OG were 25/8.3/5.3 with 3.8 TOs, shot 48%/37%/81% and had an average +10.8 per game. They were 12-2 and crushed some good teams (38 point win over Denver, 36 vs Philly).
He’s probably the third best player on a championship team and he has some notable warts as a player, but people acting like they’re better without him or that he’s an easy player to upgrade from are ridiculous. Not many available players would make them better than they looked with Randle and a healthy lineup in January.