New York Knicks: 3 most surprising players this season

May 3, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett (9) forward Julius Randle (30) and guard Derrick Rose (4) look on after Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (not pictured) was ejected in the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Knicks won 118-104. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

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New York Knicks Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

3 most surprising New York Knicks: Julius Randle

Make no mistake, Julius Randle had a fine season last year. He averaged 19.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, almost a full steal (0.8) per game. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Nobody could have seen the star turn he would take this season as the NBA’s prohibitive favorite to win Most Improved Player. His numbers have taken a leap across the board, and his impact on winning has followed suit.

After a perfectly fine 2019-20, Randle has been spectacular this season. He’s averaging 24.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game as a scorer and facilitator. And suddenly after years of being a mediocre shooter, he’s turned into a dead-eye sharpshooter. Prior to this season, he had only shot over 27.8 percent from 3-point range once before, in 2018-19 with the New Orleans Pelicans when he shot 34.4 percent.

This season, he’s shooting an absolutely ridiculous 41.2 percent. In essence, Julius Randle has been a poor-man’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, if that facsimile had a 3-point jump shot. If this is truly what Randle is now, he’s a player with very few matches or comps in the entire NBA.

On a surprising team full of unexpected delights, Julius Randle is at the top of the list.

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