Knicks Coach Hopes to Unlock Julius Randle

Julius Randle could be on his way to his best year with the New York Knicks.

Jeremy Brener | 12 Hours Ago

Jan 18, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) controls the ball against Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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New York Knicks

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle has played the best basketball of his career under coach Tom Thibodeau.

Thibodeau came to the Knicks a year after Randle signed in free agency, and the coach has drawn out the best out of the former lottery pick out of Kentucky.

Thibodeau believes that Randle can be even better in the upcoming season.

"He has evolved more than a lot of people realize," Thibodeau said via NBA insider Steve Aschburner. "He’s added the 3-point shot, he can put it on the floor, he can play back to the basket, he can face up and play off the screen. He can run the floor — I always tell him, “You’re at your best in transition, getting downhill.” When he plays that way, he’s impossible to stop. It’s speed, it’s strength, it’s all those things. He commands two on the ball, and he’s got to trust the pass from there.

The Randle that entered the league in 2014 with the Los Angeles Lakers is very different than the version of himself 11 years into the future. Thibodeau has been the best coach he's had in his career and the numbers show it.

Other than the 2021-22 season, Randle has averaged over 24 points and nine rebounds in each year under Thibodeau. Last year, Randle pulled off those numbers until January when he suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out for the rest of the season.

Randle can emerge again, but there will be some adjustments to make after hurting his shoulder. He's expected to make a full recovery in time for the season opener against the Boston Celtics, and if he follows the guidance from his coach, Randle can pick things up from where they left off.

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Published 12 Hours Ago

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.