3 Reasons Why Knicks’ Forward Julius Randle Will Will be an All-Star in 2020

Former Kentucky Wildcat Julius Randle recently signed a new contract with the New York Knicks. Here’s why Randle can make the all-star game this season.

The heart and soul of Kentucky’s stunning 2014 run to the Final Four is on the move again after one season in New Orleans next to fellow cat Anthony Davis. With Davis being shipped out to Los Angeles and a new power forward on the way for the Pelicans (he who goes by just one name: ZION), Randle’s role within the organization was fuzzy to say the least. For a 24-year-old forward that averages 21.4 points-per-game, that’s nonsense. Randle should start. For the Knicks, he not only will start but he is definitively the best player set to wear a blue and orange jersey next season. Playing with a seemingly unlimited leash and aging another year into his prime on the heels of a career year, former Kentucky Wildcat Julius Randle is going to earn an All-Star appearance. In short, here are a few reasons:

1. Scoring

Folks, Julius can score the basketball. You remember his days in Lexington. Low post demigod. Randle is a ruthless force deep in the paint. Give him the ball on the block with one arm inhaling the basketball and the other sealing off his defender. That’s two points, every time. In 2019, Randle was one of the most efficient post scorers in the league. Yes, admittedly, I’m talking about a league where back-to-the-basket scoring is a forgotten art in favor of 28-foot three-point shots. Despite possessing an older game–one tailor-made for the 1980s, he is a brute weapon on offense. You see, a post-up might be a nightmare offensive possession for analytics purposes, but it’s also a nightmare for the defender because, again, Randle can put the ball in the basket, every single time.

My man simply overpowers his opponents. It’s not an antiquated formula: in basketball, when you’re the bigger, stronger human being, it is simply much easier to score.

The other day I played pickup basketball with some of my friends at a nearby park. One friend brought his younger brother. For a male college student, I’m pretty short. As an incoming high school freshman, my friend’s brother is even smaller than me. Awesome. He guarded me. I was bigger and faster. So guess what? I scored a ton of points. I was Julius Randle in this situation.

2. Rebounding

Julius Randle is ferocious on the glass. Under Calipari, he is a member of the great lineage of relentless rebounders. DeMarcus Cousins, Terrence Jones, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bam Adebayo, P.J. Washington, Reid Travis. Randle is the ring leader of that group; the best rebounders of the past decade at Kentucky. Randle maintains such barbaric physicality coupled with the Dennis Rodman mindset: if the ball is in the air, it’s mine.

Julius Randle is a slobber knocker on the boards. Offensively, defensively. He terminates positions on one end and keeps them alive on the other end. Second-chance points play an integral role in

his offense. He misses a layup? So what? Randle is grabbing the rebound and going right back up and probably getting fouled in the process. It’s an exhausting task, rebounding against Randle. He’ll grab a thousand rebounds in 2020, you watch.

3. Role

Randle won’t have a defined “role” necessarily. Since New York and the perpetual fool Jim Dolan missed horribly in free agency, Randle came away as the top prize *(Knicks fans chugging bourbon) along with Elfrid Payton, Taj Gibson, and Wayne Ellington! *(they’re gargling Everclear now). Randle now headlines a franchise with an adequate young core and completely lackluster free agent haul. But for Randle, this is a dream come true.

Julius is the best player on the New York Knicks, one of the NBA’s most legendary franchises. He is going to be the guy…in the da’ Garden! As long as he doesn’t suck (he won’t), Randle will be a Stockholm syndrome captivator of the wicked Knicks mafia. We know R.J. Barrett is going to struggle mightily in his first season, but we also know their new power forward is going to put up 20-10 averages without breaking a sweat. Just wait, Knicks faithful will have themselves convinced Randle was a better signing than Kevin Durant. That article is going to be published, maybe it already was, they’re freaking insane in New York.

For Julius, I can’t wait. He gets to be the Ace of an NBA franchise. Jim Dolan! He’s running back the ’08 Knicks with Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph. Bully ball! It’s back! Julius Randle and Taj Gibson. Rebounding. No threes! It’s 2019 and we big-timed Kevin Durant to sign players with some real toughness. Reggie Bullock! Bobby Portis! Marcus Morris might be on the way! We’re gonna bite our lips and lose 60 games! Let’s chain-smoke even more losses over the next two years so we can open up cap space and whiff on the next great free agent class. Giannis is coming in 2021! It makes no sense but who cares! We’re the Mecca!

Yes, New York is the Mecca. And they are going to build a shrine for Julius Randle. He’s their only player worth anything. Did you appreciate my Knicks fan impersonation? I hope so. Poor Julius has to live with them, unfortunately. Here’s to hoping he earns an all-star appearance and finds a way to win some games. I have a feeling he’ll need to enlist the help of a miracle.