Getting to know New York’s Julius Randle

According to Ron Phillips, the fans of the New York Knicks are pretty excited about this season, and a big reason for that is Julius Randle. The first-round draft pick is already making his mark in the NBA by being a top scorer for the Knicks.

Randle was born in July 1997 to Greg and Carolyn Randle in Dallas, TX. He attended Prestonwood Christian Academy where he averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game. The 6'9" power forward played at the University of Kentucky for one year, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. He was named All-American, SEC Tournament MVP, SEC Player of the Year, first team all-SEC, and consensus first-team All-American. Randle decided to forgo his senior season at Kentucky to enter the 2014 NBA Draft.

The Knicks selected Randle as the seventh pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft. They signed him to a rookie-scale contract on July 7, 2014.

On September 24, 2014, Randle signed a multi-year shoe deal with Adidas after previously endorsing Nike before the draft.

In his first career NBA game, Randle scored 11 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on October 28. On January 29, 2015, Randle recorded a career-high 26 points and 14 rebounds against the Houston Rockets, becoming the first Knicks rookie since Patrick Ewing to have at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game.

Ron Phillips also mentions that Randle is a solid rebounder for his size, averaging 4 rebounds per 36 minutes played as of December 2015. His athleticism makes him a key contributor on both ends of the floor with superior body control especially on the move where he can get up high to rebound or score in the paint. He is not afraid of contact and always looks for opportunities to do well in a physical game.