The New York Knicks have had their ups and downs in the 2023-24 NBA season and so has their lead man Julius Randle. With his inconsistent play thus far, should Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau be concerned?
Knicks: Randle Not Free From Inconsistent Showings
Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post asserts that the Knicks need more consistent play from Randle if they are to reach the heights expected of them and make a viable push to the NBA Finals next Summer.
The Knicks went 2-4 to start the year, with Randle averaging a dismal 13.7 points per game. His 10.5 rebounds were a saving grace but the reigning All-NBA Third Team member shot 27.1 percent from the field and 22.5 percent from three in that span.
Since then, Randle has returned to scoring in volume but has otherwise continued to struggle to score efficiently. Randle has not quite looked like the player he was from a season ago, nor like one that has added to that success.
Case in point, Randle put up a 13-point performance on 5-12 shooting from the floor last Friday night against the Miami Heat in a narrow two-point win and followed that up with an expected 28 points in the Knicks’ most recent loss to the Phoenix Suns last Sunday.
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The Knicks Need All-Star Production From Randle to Contend
Something seems to give in each of Randle’s performances. Randle seems to be on the precipice of giving the Knicks his usual 25-10-5 on a nightly basis, but for now, the University of Kentucky product may need more time before his rhythm fully returns.
Presently, New York is 9-7 in the Eastern Conference. They put together a brief surge in Week 3 of the NBA season which saw them go 4-1 and ascend on the league’s power rankings. However, if they want to break free from hovering around .500, they’ll need Randle to be more assertive, efficient, and dominant especially on the offensive side of the ball if they want to vie for supremacy in the East.
