Ever since Julius Randle joined the New York Knicks as a free agent in 2019, he helped transform them from a struggling franchise to a team that has made the playoffs in two of the last three seasons.
The Knicks are at least somewhat respectable for the first time in what seems like forever, and a big part of this turnaround has been because Randle has taken his game to a higher level over the last three seasons.
A recent video shows the power forward’s strength and power as he takes part in strength and conditioning exercises.
Julius Randle 🏋🏿
(📸: trainer Amoila Cesar) pic.twitter.com/CnDaPaq8Fy
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) August 24, 2023
Randle was the No. 7 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, but his rookie season got off to a terrible start when he suffered a severe leg injury in his very first regular season game.
He missed the balance of the year as a result, but he bounced back and showed promise and improvement over the next three years.
The 2020-21 season was his breakout campaign, as he averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists a game while hitting 41.1 percent from 3-point range.
His production drove New York to a 41-31 record, which gave them the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and their first playoff berth since 2013.
Last season, they earned the fifth seed and defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers four games to one in the first round of the postseason, giving them only their second playoff series victory since the 1999-2000 season, which was Patrick Ewing’s last in New York.
With the emergence of guard Jalen Brunson as a star, perhaps Randle will have the Knicks once again playing until at least late April this coming season.
NEXT: Knicks Star Received Big Honor At Old High School
