Tuesday night was a big one for Julius Randle of the New York Knicks.
Not only was he and his team facing off against the Detroit Pistons to a sold-out crowd but he was also celebrating his 28th birthday.
People usually receive gifts on their special days but Randle did things differently and gave to the fans instead.
Julius Randle tonight (birthday):
36 points (szn high)
7 rebounds
6 3PM
5 assistsBday boy 🚀 pic.twitter.com/l9Lis4GAyz
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) November 30, 2022
Randle was a menace on his birthday, scoring 36 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in a win against Detroit.
He scored 6 three-pointers as well.
Those 36 points were a season-high for Randle and they definitely pleased the fans who have had a love/hate relationship with the player lately.
Big Birthday Bash
The entire Knicks team was doing well on Tuesday.
They experienced their highest offensive output of the season with their 140-110 win over the Pistons.
Randle was in fine form and was obviously feeling himself, finishing 14-of-24 from the floor and 6-of-13 from beyond the three-point arc.
It wasn’t just Randle who was giving reason to celebrate: Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, and Quentin Grimes all put up 16 points too.
With this win, the Knicks are now at 10-11, painfully close to being .500 again.
Randle is just two seasons removed from winning the 2020-21 Most Improved Player Award but his output has been decidedly mixed.
His 2021-22 season was uneven and troubled and he’s also had some problems in 2022-23 too.
His inconsistency has led to the fans feeling upset with Randle, even with his 21.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists a game.
If Randle is able to play well regularly then the fans will be calling him the best part of the Knicks again.
Maybe Tuesday night’s game gave him the boost of energy and confidence that he needed.
NEXT: Are The NY Knicks A Real Contender This Season?