Knicks all-star Julius Randle out for the season with shoulder surgery

Julius Randle (Google Images)

According to Scott Polacek of Bleacher Report on Thursday, New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle of Dallas, Texas is out for the season with season-ending shoulder surgery. Randle dislocated his shoulder after driving toward the basket and colliding with Miami Heat small forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. of Irvine, California in a 125-109 New York Knicks win over the Heat at Madison Square Garden. Randle has not played since. He was set to return, but reportedly re-injured his shoulder during a rehabilitation session, and it was determined at the time that surgery was required.

The loss is absolutely a gigantic blow to a Knicks squad looking to win its first NBA Finals since 1973. In 46 games this season as an All-Star, Randle averaged a team-high 24 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game, five assists per game, and had a field goal percentage of .472, three point percentage of .311 and a free throw percentage of .781.

This season was the third time Randle was a NBA All-Star. In 2020-21, he was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player and All-Star. Randle averaged 24.1 points per game, 10.2 rebounds per game, and six assists per game, to go along with a field goal percentage of .456, three-point percentage of .411, and free throw percentage of .811. In 2022-23 as an All-Star, Randle averaged  25.1 points per game, 10 rebounds per game, and 4.1 assists per game, along with a field goal percentage of .459, three point percentage of .343, and free throw percentage of .781.

Since Randle’s injury, the Knicks have a record of 16 wins and 14 losses. They are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 45 wins and 31 losses. The most significant win during Randle’s absence came on March 27 in a 145-101 Knicks win over the Toronto Raptors. It was the most lopsided Raptors loss in franchise history.