The 2022-23 season was a bounce-back performance for Knicks forward Julius Randle. After enduring a difficult 2021-22 campaign, the two-time All-Star led the club with 25.1 points and 10.0 rebounds in 77 regular-season games.
Despite the success, the 28-year old Randle believes that there’s room for growth in his individual game.
“I think my efficiency will be a lot better this year,” Randle said earlier this week. “I think I understand the game at a higher level, so I think it will allow me to be a more efficient player, for sure.”
A step up in efficiency would be another step in the right direction for Randle. Last season was one of his most efficient. He had the second-highest PER of his career (20.3) and turned the ball over at a career-low despite having a career-high usage rate.
Part of the reason for the rise in efficiency was shot selection. Randle launched more 3-point shots per 36 minutes (8.4) compared to the previous season — 44.4 percent of Randle’s shot attempts came from beyond the arc.
Over the past few years, Randle has gradually decreased his midrange attempts. In his first All-Star season, 20 percent of Randle’s points came from midrange, according to NBA Stats, compared to 8.5 percent in 2022-23.
Still, despite upping his shot attempts from 3-point range, Randle shot just 34.3 percent on 636 3-point attempts last year. Last year’s league average for 3-point shooting was 36.1 percent. The 41.1 percent clip he shot from 3 in 2020-21 turned out to be an outlier, but improving his shooting percentage could make a significant difference in improving his efficiency.
Since signing with the Knicks in 2019, Randle’s offensive game has transformed completely. At previous stops in Los Angeles and New Orleans, Randle operated often in the paint.
In his first four full seasons in the NBA, 47.6 percent of Randle’s shot attempts were within three feet of the basket, according to Basketball Reference. Since joining the Knicks, that number has fallen to 24.1 percent.
More shot attempts in the paint would be an easy remedy to Randle’s focus on improving efficiency. When he was a Laker and Pelican, Randle was able to have a true shooting percentage of 60 percent or higher on two occasions. He hasn’t been able to recreate that with the Knicks.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau often has a traditional center on the floor at all times which creates spacing issues for the Knicks. Part of the reason why Randle’s former backup, Obi Toppin, never found his footing with the Knicks was the fact that he was relegated to stand in the corner because New York played a non-shooting center who had to be the roll man in the pick and roll.
Randle faces the same issue with Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein at the center. Randle’s 45.9 field goal percentage would improve if he had more shot attempts in the paint.
As previously mentioned, Randle has cut down on his turnovers significantly. But there’s still room to grow in his decision-making on the floor. Randle can still be a deer in headlights when he is double-teamed or faces elevated ball pressure. There were several times last season when opposing teams game-planned for Randle’s patented spin move on drives and forced him into turnovers. Making better reads and quicker decisions could have a great impact on taking his game to the next level.
These improvements are important for Randle, who has experienced strong regular seasons followed by weaker playoff performances in two of the past three years. Improving his shooting and tightening up on some of his weaknesses could help him and the Knicks in another potential playoff run.
