The New York Knicks have turned things around this season, with the team embracing guard Jalen Brunson as the face of the franchise moving forward, which has provided some positive results.
Unfortunately, the Knicks limped into the All-Star break with the team dealing with a number of injuries and having lost four straight games, dropping their record to 33-22 while now sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference behind the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.
Even though they’ve played well without him, the most concerning injury for the Knicks is Julius Randle’s shoulder ailment, which has kept him out a considerable amount of time.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst believes that the Knicks’ injury problems are significant moving forward, with Randle potentially set to have surgery if he doesn’t feel right when he returns to the floor via NBA on ESPN.
“Significantly,” Windhorst said about the concern for the Knicks. “I would just say this was a little bit sobering for Julius Randle today. The Knicks, in their official releases about this injury and Tom Thibodeau, have kind of been vague, probably purposely. And Julius finally said it today; finally, on the record, he absolutely could have surgery depending on how he feels when he comes back.”
.@WindhorstESPN is "significantly" concerned about the Knicks with multiple players out with injuries. pic.twitter.com/rC3JIdabq0
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 21, 2024
Even though the Knicks have played surprisingly well without Randle playing alongside Brunson in the Big Apple, it’s safe to assume this team can’t compete with the best of the best in the East without the veteran forward back healthy.
It’ll be interesting to see how things pan out for the Knicks and how Randle’s injury will impact the team moving forward.
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