Slimmed down Julius Randle helping Knicks pick up pace
Julius Randle #30 of the Knicks goes to the hoop in the first half against Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. Credit: Jim McIsaac
In the Knicks’ win over Detroit in the home opener Friday night, there was a warm welcome from the Madison Square Garden crowd, from the loud din making the player introductions hard to hear to the constant celebration as the Knicks ran past the Pistons.
But there was one odd moment in the third quarter. With the Knicks winning by 27 points, a chant started — first a murmur and then joined in by others — with the fans shouting, “We want Obi!”
The chant was a familiar one from last season, when fans bellowed for more playing time for Obi Toppin and expressed disappointment with Julius Randle.
It faded quickly and the cheers resumed as Randle helped the Knicks to the 130-106 victory. In the season opener in Memphis, he had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and he followed that with 15 points and six rebounds Friday. There were plenty of minutes for everyone as Randle was on the floor for only 25 minutes.
“I think the confidence is from within, as a group,” he said. “Everyone had a great summer and came into camp in great shape, so that was a good start. We’re all just playing for each other, that’s really what it’s about. That’s really the best way I can put it — there’s no agendas other than winning. That’s what everybody cares about and that’s what I care about, and we just have to stick to that.”
Part of the difference may stem from the arrival of point guard Jalen Brunson, who has taken some of the offensive load off Randle and RJ Barrett. “[Randle’s] approach has been totally different,” Derrick Rose said. “The way he’s reading the floor is totally different. His passing has been unbelievable. Understanding that we want to get up a certain amount of threes and he’s finding the shooters . . . He’s been playing great.”
“Everyone’s just playing off of each other,” Brunson said. “It’s contagious. The fact that we have guys that are willing to do so makes it that much easier. The team had a mindset and continues to just keep playing together.”
Like many of his teammates after the disappointing 37-45 2021-22 season, Randle arrived in camp slimmed down and ready to run. But the speed and pace of play for the Knicks hasn’t come just from conditioning but from ball movement. Randle’s past penchant for over-dribbling prompted some of the fan criticism, but this season the focus has been on moving the ball — not just Randle, but all of the players.
The Knicks will host the Orlando Magic on Monday, with a test awaiting in rookie Paolo Banchero.
“I think we’re at another level, for sure,” Randle said. “We’re definitely playing at a quicker pace. It’s something we’ve practiced since the very beginning at training camp. I think it’s a fun brand of basketball that we’re all enjoying, and we’re excited to keep building on it.
“I think we’re seeing the results since the very beginning of training camp, day one. It’s exciting. At the end of the day, all of us just want to win. If we do that, it’s great for everybody.”
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
