Former Nets striker Richard Jefferson has gone through a lot at the Knicks. But appearing on ESPN’s Knicks-Mavericks television on Friday, Jefferson said Julius Randle has become an NBA player, even if he was a third-team man.
Jefferson arrives a little late at the party as he pontificates while Randle goes 44 points to Big D.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said in early March that Randle is conducting an “NBA season.” This honor doesn’t get as much acclaim, but it’s a bigger hit than the All-Star, because every NBA All-National team is considered one of the top 15 players in the league. More specifically, Randle would be among the top six strikers.
The accolades should continue to come after Randle became an All-Star for the first time in March. He has also become the top candidate for the most improved player.
A greater honor, however, would be his selection as a striker on one of the three All-NBA teams. LeBron James is a specialist despite his absence with a hamstring injury, as are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard.
After those three, Randle could beat Zion Williamson, who visits the garden on Sunday, for the second team if the Pelicans don’t make any of the postseason and the Knicks stay at No. 6 in the Eastern Conference.
Jayson Taytum, Jaylen Brown and Jimmy Butler are third-team candidates. Kevin Durant will not have played enough matches to be a real consideration.
Randle has five triple-doubles and averages 23.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists while throwing 41% from the 3-point distance. He also doesn’t have enough credit for his durability, though he has played in 56 of 57 games as the Knicks ’iron horse.
His gameplay and deep shooting are the two elements that have transformed him into a potential superstar in his seventh season at 26 years old.
In his last three games, facing two of his former teams, the Lakers and Pelicans, and then playing in his hometown of Dallas, Randle averaged 36.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and shot 52 percent from 3 points.
Due to HIPAA laws, the Knicks rejected comments about whether Alec Burks was forced to quarantine in Dallas because of COVID-19 protocols, as the team flew home Saturday. Burks is officially out of Sunday’s game against the Pelicans.
Knicks legend Earl Monroe recently joined Twitter and already has advantages. After Randle outscored Kristaps Porzingis in all categories on Friday, Monroe tweeted, “Is it me or has Porzingis gone from being a Knicks franchisor to a great pro with the Mavs?”