Julius Randle continues to strongly back his first All-Star nod, and it will be hard to keep him out if he continues to play as he is.
The Knicks remain prominent and play 21 significant basketball games in their season, sitting on the 9-12 and only half back game of the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 8 in the East – largely thanks to Randle.
Entering on Sunday, Randle averaged 22.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and six assists per game. In Sunday’s defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers, he added another 27 points, 12 rebounds and five assists to his season totals.
Randle is competing with the rest of the Eastern Conference court members for a spot on the roster.
Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Jerami Grant, Gordon Hayward and Nikola Vucevic are currently ahead of Randle in points per game this season, but Grant, Hayward and Vucevic are all within 1.5 points of Randle’s average .
The advantage for Randle will come in his rebounds and passes. Of the seven players ahead of him, only Antetokounmpo averages more rebounds at 11.4 per game – Embiid is on par with Randle at 11.1.
Among the best rebounders of the conference, Randle and Embiid are in fifth place behind Andre Drummond (14.7), Clint Capela (14.5), Domantas Sabonis (12.2) and Antetokounmpo.
Randle also leads all East first court players in assists per game, with Khris Middleton and Sabonis both close behind him at 5.8. Among the top scorers, Antetokounmpo and Durant are close to him at 5.7 and 5.5 respectively.
With the starting three spots on the pitch most likely going to Durant, Embiid and Antetokounmpo, you’d expect Randle should be a sight for one of the reserve seats off the bench.
Knicks fans need a win and Randle being named All-Star could be the start of a great season for New York.