After a career year where he led the New York Knicks to the No. 4 seed in the East, Julius Randle has been awarded a massive payday. Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, he's inked a four-year, $117 million extension with the team:
New York Knicks All-Star Julius Randle has agreed to a four-year, $117 million contract extension — elevating his deal’s total value to five years and $140 million, his agents Aaron Mintz and Steven Heumann of @CAA_Basketball tell ESPN: https://t.co/4q7EfERHsw
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 5, 2021
As noted, it takes the total value of his deal with the Knicks to five years and $140 million. Randle broke out as a budding superstar for Tom Thibodeau's squad in 2020/21, putting up career-best numbers across the board. The former Kentucky standout averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists while shooting an impressive 41% from three-point range. He was the leading catalyst in the Knicks' first playoff appearance since 2013, although they lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
Thanks to his terrific campaign, Randle was awarded the Most Improved Player of the Year award, a testament to the strides he took with the Knicks. As Wojnarowski pointed out, the 26-year-old could've waited till next summer to ink a $200 million deal, but signing a new contract extension right now gives the Knicks the ability to shape the roster around him and add more pieces. New York has already brought in Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier while retaining the likes of Alec Burks, Taj Gibson, and Derrick Rose.
Randle became a much better defensive player under Thibodeau as well, flourishing in all aspects under the Knicks head coach, who won Coach of the Year. This payday is well deserved for Julius Randle and he'll be looking to take New York into the postseason once again in 2021/22 with an improved roster.
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