There may be a reason as to why Julius Randle struggled so mightily for the Knicks in the early going of the season.
According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, Randle “was operating at about 70 percent” during the first six games of the season due to pain from the ankle that he injured twice late last season which necessitated arthroscopic surgery in the offseason.
In those six games that saw New York go 2-4, the power forward averaged 13.7 points per game on 27 percent shooting from the field and 23 percent from deep. Not once did Randle score 20 points or more.
Despite his struggles and pain management, Randle reportedly resisted attempts from the Knicks to rest him. According to Bondy, a source said, “He’s too proud to sit.” An injury to RJ Barrett that caused him to miss two games could’ve also impacted his decision not to sit.
Over the last three seasons, the 28-year-old has been among the league leaders in total minutes and has voiced his displeasure with load management in the past saying, “I have my own science. I just put way too much into my body, for me personally to cheat myself out of being available for my team.”
The good news for Randle is that lately he appears to be feeling better. In the Knicks’ last two games against the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs, Randle scored 27 and 23 points, respectively, to go along with 26 total rebounds – a stat that has remained consistent this season even with the pain.
Randle also shot a much better 43 percent from the field and 36 percent from three in the two contests as New York won both games and is now 4-4 on the year.
The Knicks don’t play again until Sunday, Nov. 12 at 12 p.m. against the Charlotte Hornets at home so Randle and the rest of the team will have plenty of time to rest up.