Los Angeles Lakers: 2017-18 player grades for Julius Randle

Strengths

What makes Randle’s improved play unique is his style of play and motor didn’t change from previous seasons. Randle is a interior force that powers through opponents in the paint and is difficult to keep off the offensive glass, and this was largely how he did his damage this season.

What helped him take the next step is his improved speed in his lean physique without losing the power that made him so effective in the paint.

Randle is now a mismatch for most big men in the NBA. He’s too quick to be contained off the dribble by a large portion of NBA centers, and can overpower the smaller bigs when teams downsize their lineups.

This, along with friendlier circumstances in terms of talent around him and a lot of space to work with, are big reasons why his field goal percentage jumped to a career high 55.8 percent (previous was 48.8 percent).

His lean physique had a major impact on him improving on the defensive end of the ball as well. Randle has always possessed above-average lateral quickness for his size, but he can legitimately guard every position on the floor. Combine his improved speed with his tenacity and effort, and Randle should continue to develop into a great defender as he showed throughout this season.