Dressed in a gray-hooded sweatsuit, Julius Randle took his seat at the end of the Knicks’ bench Thursday night for the first time since he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last month.
Coach Tom Thibodeau noted the importance of the three-time All-Star’s presence, and being able to share in the team’s first-round ouster of the 76ers in Game 6 in Philadelphia.
“It was great, it was great to see him,” Thibodeau said after the win, which sets up a second-round matchup against the Pacers. “You miss the smile. You’re talking about, and people tend to forget because he’s been out for a while, but he’s an All-Star and an All-NBA player. We said it all season long that we knew we couldn’t replace him individually, we had to do it collectively. And that’s what makes the group so good.”
So he’s out, how do we compensate for that? Everyone has to pitch in and do it a little bit more and play great defense, the things we can do as a team.”
Josh Hart, who has thrived in the starting lineup since Randle first was sidelined with a dislocated right shoulder in late January, hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 25.1 seconds remaining in Thursday’s closeout victory.
Before the game, Hart replied, “Where do I start?” when asked how much the Knicks have missed Randle, calling it “a big void” that people have “somehow [forgotten].” Hart also noted Randle’s production of “24 [points], nine [rebounds] and five [assists]” per game.
Randle no longer can contribute those stats to the Knicks’ postseason run, but it appears he now can at least come along for the ride.
He even took a couple of layups in front of the visiting bench during one break in the action during the game.
“There are nights Julius can get you 40 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists. So you’re not replacing that individually,” Thibodeau said. “But it was great to see him, he’s in good spirits and he’s on his way.”
The 29-year-old Randle, who has rehired CAA as his agency after briefly switching to WME Sports, is signed for next season at $30.3 million (including likely incentives) with a player option worth up to $32.4 million for 2025-26.
He is eligible for an extension worth roughly $190 million over four years this summer.