Julius Randle has already started rehabbing from his dislocated shoulder with the purpose of playing this season, and Tom Thibodeau is encouraged by the early signs that his power forward will be back “as quick as he can.”
“You know his makeup. That’s what you love about the guy,” the coach said. “It’ll be full bore. He’ll give it everything he has. … We’re gonna make sure he’s healthy before he gets out there. But we’re encouraged.”
The Knicks’ long-awaited official update Thursday afternoon that he would be reevaluated in 2-3 weeks also had an optimistic tone, considering the visual of the dislocation and initial concerns it would cost Randle the season.
As The Post reported and Thibodeau reiterated, Randle’s rehab is part of a plan to avoid surgery and play this season.
“We’re hopeful that everything goes well, and we think it will,” Thibodeau said. “But we’re pleased knowing his makeup. The way he works, he’ll be back as soon as he can be back.”
Still, the 2-3 week timetable is just until the reevaluation, not a recovery timeline.
And nobody can predict setbacks or how quickly the shoulder will heal or react to rehab.
Randle suffered the injury Saturday after tumbling over Miami forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. Randle braced his fall with his right arm, which absorbed the weight of his body on the hardwood.
Randle’s shoulder clearly dislodged from his socket, sending him into the locker room for treatment.
Tests — which included at least one X-ray and MRI exam — left the Knicks and Randle encouraged that he wouldn’t need in-season surgery.
The update of 2-3 weeks before the reevaluation has kept the news on the positive path.
According to a shoulder doctor who spoke to The Post and did not evaluate Randle, avoiding surgery means an NBA player could return between 2-8 weeks.
It depends on how fast Randle recovers his strength and range of motion with no pain, said Dr. Dennis DeBernardis, a surgeon at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute.
Randle’s risk of returning before surgery is an aggravation, which is more likely after the first dislocation. The three-time All-Star is among the most committed players to being available and didn’t miss a game this season before the injury.
The Knicks, who picked up their ninth win in a row after a 109-105 win over the Pacers on Thursday night, have now won threee in a row without Randle.
But Thibodeau understands that missing 25 points per game isn’t ideal.
“I know what he means to our team,” Thibodeau said. “And so, I like the way our team has responded. We know we can’t replace what he does individually, so we have to do that collectively.”
The Knicks play just six more games in the next three weeks because it spans the All-Star break.