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.
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