Knicks striker Julius Randle failed to get a triple-double, but pulled out the triple crown on Sunday’s All-Star.
He competed in the Skills Competition, was used as a mainstay in the Slam Dunk Contest and played 13 minutes in his first All-Star Game.
In action limited to the main event, Randle scored two first cubes, one on a driving dunk, by four points and threw an alley-oop pass to Donovan Mitchell for a dunk.
“It was a long day,” Randle said. “I’m not going to lie.”
After playing in the Knicks’ 38 games and leading the NBA in a total of minutes, he was well behind, as his Durant team suffered a 170-150 defeat to LeBron.
“That’s a big deal,” Randle said of his few minutes. “I am leading the league in minutes. It’s a big deal. Trust me, I’m fine.
“It was good. Definitely everything I imagined to be a part of it. I had a great time, [was] excited. It’s something I want to be a part of a lot more. It was a great experience, the conversations. It’s an experience I will never forget: the first. “
Halfway through, the Knicks rookie, Obi Toppin, summoned Randle to stand next to his father so he could jump on the two.
“I was sure,” Randle said. “It simply came to our notice then [Saturday]. [Saturday], I was worried. He did so much today that I had nothing to worry about. “
On March 11, Randle was at a low point when he realized his first season, as a Knick had ended up due to the pandemic, which stopped changing its disappointing season.
A year later, Flash stepped forward and Randle and his family were in Atlanta this weekend. His wife Kendra, whom he met in Kentucky, and his 4-year-old son Kyden were at the State Farm Arena on Sunday night.
That’s how fast life can change as a Knick.
“He’s enjoying himself,” Randle said of his son. “It simply came to our notice then that it was not normal and great. Definitely love this. He loves to walk around saying he’s a star kid. He ‘s enjoying it. “
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said entering the All-Star Randle break is playing as an “All-NBA player.” After the season three NBA teams are announced and Randle’s numbers (if they continue) could easily come if the Knicks reach the playoffs.
Randle, 26, admitted in a recent podcast that he cried when apprenticeship coaches had voted him as an Eastern Conference star reserve.
“It was more, as much as being named All-Star, it was more the journey,” Randle said Sunday. “I am grateful for the seven years I have had so far in the league, the journey and the process, year after year and the hassle, hard work, sacrifice and commitment through the process. It made me think and appreciate this process more than anything. “
The Knicks rank fifth in the East thanks to Randle’s ironman will.
He has not lost a game. He averaged 23.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He has spent the past two weeks in deep reflection on how he disappointed himself by failing as a leader in his first season during last season’s Knicks disaster.
You can now call the Knicks leader, Captain Randle, although Thibodeau does not believe in awarding titles.
“It means a lot, it’s a responsibility I really enjoy,” Randle said. “A lot of things about my way of leading is being vocal, but I try to lead by example: how I approach work and study the game. Do things the right way. It’s a big responsibility I love to have. Hopefully, in the second half I will continue to do this and be the best leader I can. Hopefully, that translates into victories. “