New York Knicks forward Julius Randle has faced plenty of scrutiny throughout his NBA career, but the temperature has risen in Manhattan.
With teammate Jalen Brunson usurping him as the face of the franchise and the fan favorite, Randle’s star power dimmed in his larger-than-life shadow. What’s more, the three-time All-Star sustained a dislocated shoulder at an inopportune time, the Knicks catching fire following their OG Anunoby trade. Always known for his competitiveness, there was never doubt that Randle was working around the clock to get back on the court. However, when he chose to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery just ahead of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, he came under fire.
This week, the 29-year-old opened up about his current health status and the decision not to play through his injury.
Julius Randle Opens Up About Shoulder Surgery Decision
“I’m good, I’m healthy,” Randle tells 7PM in Brooklyn co-hosts Carmelo Anthony and Kid Mero. “I’m getting there. It’s a process. It’s something that’s going to take a long time. I knew that going into it. But I’m ahead of schedule, I’m feeling good. I’m healthy. I’ll be ready when the season starts.”
“Yeah, it was terrible bro, to be honest,” Randle says when asked how it felt to be sidelined during the Knicks’ playoff run.
“It was more so the process leading up to it… I had to really go through the process to see if I could play or not… That was tough to accept, because I’m the type of person who’s like, ‘Man, I’m getting through anything.’ So it was tough to accept. But it ended up being the best thing.”
“I felt selfish,” he explains.
“When I made the decision, I’m talking (about) I’m rehabbing for like two, two and a half months, knowing my shoulder ain’t good… But it was a decision like, alright, do I play and know that I’m (going to) miss six (or) seven months after we done playing? So I probably ain’t playing ’til the next year… Can I help the team? I don’t think I can get a rebound. I can’t fall…”
“…I feel selfish like I’m letting the guys down,” Randle reiterates, delving into his mindset while rehabbing his shoulder injury.
“…Then it came to a point where it’s like, man, I don’t even want to be around ’cause like I’m trying to work to come back but I feel like a distraction… I feel like an outcast. I’m like, bro, let me just stay away, they doing great, like let me just… be around and support when I can.”
“So it’s just like I had to get out of my own way and my own ego,” he admits, “and be like, ‘Alright bro’… You know what I mean? Deal with it and keep moving and support the best way you can.”
The Last Word on Julius Randle’s Surgery Decision
One can hardly blame Randle for feeling like a pariah in his own locker room. Any competitor would want to be available, especially during a sensational playoff run.
However, it’s strange that such a close-knit group didn’t work harder to make Randle feel better about the situation. They’re all grown men and they aren’t there to baby one another. However, there’s been plenty of talk about the chemistry between the three core Knicks players who were teammates at Villanova. That camaraderie should’ve been felt a bit more by the player who helped the franchise remain competitive before their arrival. At least enough for him to not feel like an outcast.
