Julius Randle fell violently on his right shoulder in the fourth quarter of the game against the Miami heat on January 27. He missed the final 4:27 as the Knicks beat the Heat 125-109. A day later, the Knicks announced that the All-Star forward had a dislocated shoulder.
New York was third in the Eastern Conference when Randle was injured. The team has since fallen to fifth place and is in danger of having to make the playoffs via the play-in tournament. The Knicks are hoping “Don Julio” avoids a season-ending injury.
Kyden Randle, Julius Randle’s son, had a moment of inattention and had this to say about his father’s status:
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“He should be playing right now, but he’s not. … He can’t shoot threes. He should [be playing] but he shoots a lot of threes. Okay, that’s okay.
His mother, Kendra Randle, couldn’t hold back her laughter near the end. New York Knicks fans are likely in the same boat as the seven-year-old when it comes to the star forward’s status.
Julius Randle’s three-point attempts per game are down this season compared to last. From 8.3 3PA, it went to 5.3 3PA. With less volume, its efficiency also suffered. However, the Knicks have several threats deep on their team, notably with Donte DiVincenzo and Jalen Brunson in programming. Tom Thibodeau’s hands are simply tied as the team is riddled with injuries.
Kyden Randle also hopes OG Anunoby returns with his father Julius Randle
Kyden Randle shouldn’t forget OG Anunoby. The New York Knicks were 12-2 when the former Toronto Raptors arrived in a trade to the Big Apple. However, he also suffered an elbow injury before Julius Randle suffered his.
The Knicks can still make some noise in the playoffs if Randle returns. They will, however, be a tougher team to beat in a seven-game series if Anunoby is also available. Anunoby’s versatility, defense, and playoff experience will be an asset that the Knicks can surely benefit from.
Although Julius Randle’s return is still up in the air, he said in an interview late last month that season-ending surgery remains an option. Randle added that he is progressing well and returning before the end of the regular season is also a possibility.
Meanwhile, OG Anunoby could be about to suit up for New York again. Anunoby’s status is now day-to-day, and he still has not been cleared to participate in full contact drills.
