SUMMARY
- Julius Randle has been away from the Knicks and dealing with a shoulder injury for more than 2 months.
- Reports reveal that Randle will miss the remainder of this season and undergo surgery.
New York Knicks fans were devastated after recent reports revealed that Julius Randle is expected to miss the remainder of this season and will undergo surgery in order to treat his latest injury. As some NBA fans should be aware, Randle plays the center position for the Knicks and has been on the team for 5 seasons now.
After the acquisition of Jalen Brunson last year and a trade deadline move that brought OG Anunoby to the team, the Knicks have been playing well this season and currently hold a record of 44 wins and 31 losses. Although the team had goals of making a deep postseason run, it now appears as if Randle will not be a part of their plans.
Julius Randle has missed more than 2 months of the regular season
Several NBA players miss games due to injury throughout the 82-game-long regular season. While the majority of them miss a few weeks at best, Randle’s shoulder injury has put him out of commission for more than 2 months. While some fans hoped that he would recover in time for the playoffs, recent reports indicate that he will soon undergo surgery and has no plans of returning to the Knicks this season.
Julius Randle will undergo season-ending right shoulder surgery, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/qz9HTaRV01
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 4, 2024
Given the impact Randle has on both ends of the court for the Knicks, there is no denying that his absence will be felt. In the 46 games he participated in this season, Julius Randle averaged 24 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5 assists. Additionally, he made 47.2% of his field goal attempts and made 31.1% of his three-pointers.
Not having Randle healthy for the playoffs undoubtedly impacts the Knicks drastically. As a result, fans are left wondering how far their team can go without one of their best players and franchise cornerstones on the court.
How far can the Knicks go without Randle?
Based on the current standing in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks will face either the Miami Heat or Indiana Pacers in their first-round matchup. While the Heat defeated them last season, the Knicks will undoubtedly be favored over the Pacers, with or without Julius Randle.