Julius Randle’s shooting struggles have been apparent early in this Knicks season, and the NBA’s biggest pundits are calling him out.
Amid more shooting woes during the first half of the Knicks’ In-Season Tournament game, a 110-105 loss, against the Bucks on Friday night, ESPN analyst and former NBA center Kendrick Perkins had harsh words for Randle.
“Well, first, how about trying to pass the ball to one another? That’s the first thing,” Perkins said of the Knicks falling behind at the half. “It’s too much individual basketball and it starts with Julius Randle. Not only should the Knicks fans be frustrated with the way that he plays the game, but if I’m on his team, I’m frustrated.
“There’s no way in hell that they’re in the film room watching their games and noticing that he is ball hogging, like he has to be unselfish. Get off the ball, trust his teammates and just play team basketball.”
Randle, who came into the game with a 27.6 field goal percentage, had another abysmal first half from the field, going 3-for-14 (21.4 percent) while going 1-for-6 beyond the 3-point arc.
For the game, Randle finished with 16 points on just 5 of 20 shooting.
“I stay even[-keeled],” Randle said after a loss to the Cavs this week, per The Post’s Stefan Bondy. “It’ll fall eventually. It’s a long season, 82-game season. I trust the work that I’ve put in on a day-to-day basis, so there’s no point in me being frustrated.”
Point guard Immanuel Quickley added that he has faith in Randle righting the ship.
“I don’t doubt Julius at all,” Quickley said. “If you look at what he’s done since he’s been here, maybe two all-NBAs, two All-Stars. Near 60 points in a game.
“He’s probably one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around. I’m sure he’ll bounce back.”
Perkins had some ideas for Randle to shoot less and spread the ball around to his teammates to be more of a facilitator.
“Julius Randle is so versatile. Sometimes, how about just go set a screen and roll, screen and pop?” Perkins suggested. “Do yourself a favor and allow others to get you easy baskets. You don’t have to show us that you’ve been working on your craft in the offseason.
“We don’t want to see it anyway.”
