Despite all of the challenges the big man out of Kentucky has faced in his career, Julius Randle believes that he has a newfound purpose with the New York Knicks: championship.
Amid a breakout year with the Big Apple franchise, Randle confessed his desire to help the Knicks long-term in their rebuilding efforts and quest to win a championship.
“I knew where we were starting at,” Randle said, per Sopan Deb of The New York Times. “I knew the challenge I had when I signed here. I signed here with the hopes of being here long term. I want to be one of the guys that’s part of this team and eventually, hopefully, we are competing for championships and winning championships. That’s my dream. A picture perfect thing for me.”
In his seventh season in the NBA, the Knicks forward has gotten his fair share of overcoming obstacles From experiencing a brutal leg injury minutes into his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers to never making it to the playoffs, Randle understands what it means to be an underdog.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, a fierce competitor who made his name coaching Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls in the earlier half of the past decade, has had an impact on Randle as a player, via Deb:
“He’s a guy that is an extreme competitor and very aware of everything that’s going on. Takes each possession like it’s our last, and really coaches with the type of intensity and passion that you want from a coach,” Thibs said of Randle.
Knicks fans have not had a taste of a winning season since Carmelo Anthony was the face of the franchise a few years back. Julius Randle will have to step up to be the man that brings this franchise to the playoffs and re-instills hope in NYC, a task that is difficult but not impossible.
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