Julius Randle, a legitimate All-Star contender, is “the engine” that is driving the Knicks’ resurgence.
That’s how Randle was described by veteran teammate Austin Rivers and first-year coach Tom Thibodeau, respectively, after the power of the attack and the sudden triple-double threat led the growing Knicks to their fifth victory in six games the night Wednesday against Utah at the Garden.
Thibodeau’s arrival and a rewritten commitment admitted to his conditioning seem to have unlocked a new level of Randle’s game, which was signed by the Knicks for a $ 62.1 million three-year free agent contract in 2019.
The former Kentucky star has a career-high average of 23.1 points, 12.0 rebounds and, most importantly, 7.4 assists per game – while recording the most minutes in the NBA (38.6 mpg) – before Friday’s home game against Oklahoma City.
“He is our engine. (…) He’s doing everything, ”said Thibodeau. “Playing great minutes, he arrives the next day and works, takes care of his body, great with recovery, great in cinema sessions. It is the kind of invaluable leadership for a team.
“I think that when you look at most of the players in this league, there is a progression to becoming that type of player. They just don’t get there overnight. There are steps they must take along the way, and I think he did that. “
Randle, 26, returned to the training ground in early December “in unbelievable form,” added Thibodeau, which allowed him to record heavy minutes while debutant striker Obi Toppin (calf) remains sidelined.
The Lakers’ seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft averaged 16.1 points and 9.0 bags during their first six NBA seasons. That stretch also included a one-season break with Anthony Davis in New Orleans before Randle signed with the Knicks.
Randle was never selected for an All-Star team in his career, but Rivers believes his new teammate “has played at that level so far” during the Knicks’ first 5-3 game since 2013.
“The biggest surprise for me was his vision, his willingness to pass and his conditioning,” said Rivers, a nine-year veteran, after contributing 14 of his 23 points off the bench in the fourth quarter against Jazz. “He’s in an incredible way to do that. He plays most of the game. It does this at both ends. He is talking. He’s been great for us.
“He’s playing on an All-Star level, you can’t deny that in any way. So, we need him to continue, for sure. “
Randle more than doubled his career assist production, staying seventh in the league in that category until Wednesday, after averaging just 2.8 in his first 375 career games.
“It’s fun for me, honestly,” said Randle after Wednesday’s game. “Seeing my teammates leave the ball screens, or handoffs, or if they bend me on the crossbar or whatever, making the right move and hitting the guys when they are open is energizing for me and energizing for them.
“It just makes us play hard for each other in defense. When we all know that we’re going to go out together and make the right move and move on and just play for each other. It’s incredible. We’re all having fun doing this, and I’m also having fun doing it. ”