Julius Randle was the big man on campus for the New York Knicks all throughout this resurgent season. The rise of Randle felt emblematic of the same shocking turnaround of the Knicks franchise itself.

The Knicks forward went from afterthought to sudden All-Star, just like New York went from being an annual cellar-dweller to one of the season's most exciting stories. But just as Randle carried the team to the postseason, his playoff struggles let the team down.

Derrick Rose suddenly became the team's best offensive option, which delighted NBA circles, but wasn't a great sign for Knicks fans who knew what Randle was capable of. Rose spoke out about Julius Randle's underwhelming offseason.

Via The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov:

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“It’s all about just adjusting,” the Knicks guard said of Randle. “I told him I still do believe in him. I’m gonna ride with him until the end, just like everybody on the team. He got us here. It’s all about making them adjustments during the game and just learning from all of your experiences. Now, the next time when he’s back in the postseason, he has a foundation to work from.”

Knicks fans can only hope that this early exit motivates Julius Randle to come back stronger next season. The big man was emotional as he summed up what the team was able to accomplish, despite their first-round ouster.

Expectations should be high for Julius Randle heading into next season.