The New York Knicks, who have great expectations for this season, are almost ready to start their chase for a championship as the new NBA season is just one month away.
Numerous injured players are returning for the Knicks to start the season, and a promising development regarding All-Star Julius Randle’s recovery from a shoulder injury suggests that he might be ready to play.
According to ESPN’s Chris Herring, Randle stated that his recuperation is doing well and that he should be able to play before the beginning of the season. “The Knicks, who went 11-1 and outscored opponents by 202 points in the 12 games he, Jalen Brunson, and OG Anunoby played in, will be happy to have Randle back.”
After sustaining a dislocated shoulder in the fourth quarter of their Jan. 27 game against the Miami Heat, the three-time All-Star missed the final 36 games of the regular season and the whole postseason. The Knicks determined that season-ending surgery was the best course of action after Randle struggled to recover from the ailment without surgery toward the end of the season.
In addition to healing from a serious injury, Randle has a contract dispute with the Knicks to resolve before the summer of 2020, so this season could be defining for his career. He was made eligible for a four-year, $181.5 million extension last month, but he hasn’t signed yet. If he declines his player option, he could potentially hit free agency as soon as the upcoming summer.
Given that Randle was a major factor in the Knicks’ success and is accountable for the team’s turnaround, the team would prefer to have him around for a long time. One could argue that had Randle been healthy, New York would have advanced at least to the Eastern Conference finals. They were certainly missing his presence during the previous series.
But now that Mikal Bridges is involved, it will be interesting to see how Randle’s position on the court is impacted. Randle is still unquestionably the team’s second option, but with more mouths to feed, his shot diet may suffer, which may significantly affect his performance given that he is usually a volume scorer.
Whether he plays for the Knicks or someone else in the future, his performance this season could have an impact on his career path. Nevertheless, he is a member of the squad this year, and his teammates will be thrilled to have him back as they aim to contend for an NBA championship.