Julius Randle Embraces Knicks' 'Championship Challenge'

In an expansive interview with Shams Charania, Julius Randle embraced the progress the New York Knicks have made but acknowledged the distance from the ultimate goal.

It's been over 50 years since the New York Knicks last triumphed in the NBA Finals. Julius Randle's wait has been considerably shorter but he's equally tired of the drought.

The Knicks' two-time All-Star forward spoke of his championship aspirations and commitments in an interview with Shams Charania of The Athletic. In the expansive conversation, Randle called New York the most challenging destination of his decade-long career ... quite the statement considering his NBA career began on Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers ... but he's embracing every minute and every burden.

“New York has definitely been the most challenging,” Randle told Charania. “I think more challenging for me personally because I want to win so bad. There’s nothing more that I want to do other than win a championship here in the city and I know the city really wants it.”

Brad Penner, USA TODAY SPORTS

Manhattan has been wanting and waiting: in addition to the five-decade wait for another Larry O'Brien Trophy hoist, it's been 23 years since its Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals, the third-longest drought in basketball. Randle has been one of the most consistent silver linings in that span despite the lack of championship hardware.

In only four-plus seasons, Randle has made himself a mainstay in the Knicks' record books, currently ranking fourth on the franchise's all-time three-pointers list and fifth in points per game. The 29-year-old has established a lasting spot among the Association's finest since coming over from the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019, repping the Knicks on two All-NBA teams and taking home 2021's Most Improved Player Award.

But Randle fulfilled the leadership quota by asking that his personal hardware be set aside in pursuit of a championship. 

Randle has overseen significant strides in the evolution of the snakebitten new-century Knicks: his aforementioned 2021 breakout ended a seven-year playoff drought and last season's efforts (25.1 points, 10 rebounds) guided the Knicks to their first postseason series victory since 2013. 

That, Randle knows, is far from fully satisfying, especially in New York. 

"Personal accolades, they're great and all that, but you know that's for me," Randle said. "It's frustrating because I want to continue to take those steps, and since I've got here I feel like we've done a tremendous job of making those strides, but our job's not finished. I get that hunger that the city has, but I have that same hunger, and I want to deliver the same thing.”

Ball Game: Randle, Knicks Secure Brunson's 50-Point Ball After Giannis Controversy

After a slow start to his fifth season in New York, Randle has helped push the Knicks (17-12) to wins in four of their past six, situating them in the sixth and final automatic spot on the current Eastern Conference playoff bracket. New York returns to action on Wednesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m. ET, MSG).