Knicks' Brunson-Randle Tandem Among NBA's Best 'League Pass' Players

The New York Knicks' lauded tandem of Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle earned some special recognition from The Ringer.

New York Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle have been responsible for the team's most successful season in years. 

The tandem's activities have garnered some special recognition from The Ringer's latest edition of "NBA League Pass Value Rankings," which is said to rank the best players to watch on the Association's out-of-market television package. action. It's said to favor "charisma, the smooth and the volatile, (and) the players who set fire to our imaginations."

On that list, Brunson and Randle are lauded for their nightly entertainment value on the list at 14th and 17th respectively. 

"The All-Star snub has gone from playing with one of the highest-usage guys in the league (Luka Donćić) to running his own squad, and his box scores have been reaping the rewards of the relocation," the curators declare. "Brunson has the ball in his hands more and is doing more with it. He’s getting to the line more, getting to the paint whenever he pleases, and shooting the dimples off the ball. In the month of January, the jumper was especially toasty. He’s shooting at a big rim right now and has been lights-out from distance. Brunson keeps his dribble with the best of them, maintains pressure—beaucoup escapability here—and makes opposing teams pay with quality decision-making and touch in the midrange."

It's hard to argue against that assessment. The Villanova/Dallas Mavericks alum has evolved into one of the best floor generals in the NBA and his career-best 23.8-point average and 3.1 assist-to-turnover ratio are only a prelude to his television appeal.

He reads the defense and either makes his man pay with a strong jump shot or punishes the defender for not respecting it by accelerating to the rim. If opponents catch on, he gives help defenders nightmares with sound reads to the strong or weak side. 

Though Randle has struggled since a historic 57-point effort in the Knicks' Monday loss to Minnesota, he nonetheless comes in at 17th on the unique list. The 2023 All-Star is enjoying a career season behind 25.5-point 10.1-rebound averages. 

"He can be tempestuous with the ball in his hands, just super (ticked) off. Happy to shift into bully mode whenever necessary," the accompanying blurb declares. A rhinoceros with dexterity. Trucking defenders in an arena near you. It’s not an exaggeration to say if you locked him in a room with 30 bears it would take only five minutes for them to start bending knees, gain speech, and call him Father. That’s not to say he cannot also apply a softer touch."

"The All-Star has been fantastic on spot-ups and solid enough from distance to keep people honest. He’s scoring even more than he did during his last All-Star campaign in 2021 and has shown up huge in crucial moments."

Naz Reid and Kyle Anderson, Randle's primary defenders in Minnesota's aforementioned visit, can attest to Randle's impressive handle for a power forward. The All-Star has routinely thrown opponents off their en route to difficult, if not showstopping, dunks and relentless attacks of the rim. 

Brunson and Randle will have to showcase their primetime powers if they hope to get the Knicks (42-33) out of their current slump: New York has lost three in a row after Thursday's baffling loss in Orlando (one without an injured Brunson) and now faces three days off before the Houston Rockets' visit on Monday night (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG). 

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