Is the relationship between Julius Randle and the New York Knicks irreparable?

With more talent on the New York Knicks, Randle doesn’t need to be a superstar.

Few teams relied on their star player as heavily as New York relied on Randle over the last two seasons. Though extremely talented and worthy of his 2021 All-NBA selection, Randle is better when sharing the court with other talented players so he doesn’t have to be the lead scorer, top defender and primary facilitator of a team.

Acquiring Brunson to become the Knicks’ starting point guard means the ball will be in Randle’s hands a bit less, which should benefit him long-term. A place-setter and talented screen navigator, Brunson will help Randle generate easier looks at the rim by putting pressure on defenders and leading Randle to the right spots with timely passes and fluid movement.

Presumably, we’ll be seeing growth from the Knicks’ underrated young core led by swingman R.J. Barrett entering his fourth NBA season. Although his efficiency wasn’t always pretty, Barrett made strides last year as a primary scoring option who could take the game into his hands and create shots when it mattered most. Following his lead are the likes of Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Cam Reddish and Summer League star Quentin Grimes.

With the rest of his team taking steps to get better, Randle will be empowered to get back to the things that make him great. That should include a lot of time spent on the block and high post. From here, Randle can flex his most influential offensive skills: Playmaking or scoring by way of the triple-threat, dribble moves and post-ups. He’ll also have more energy to focus on that high-IQ, sturdy and manipulative defense he once displayed within a thriving Tom Thibodeau scheme.

This isn’t Space Jam—Julius Randle didn’t just get his skill sapped away by a maniacal little alien. His confidence got shaken and his team regressed. There is blame to be spread between himself and the New York Knicks organization for last year’s struggles, but all that’s behind them now.

Not only can Randle and the Knicks rebuild their relationship, but if they can regain their identity together and keep morale high, there’s no reason the team can’t be better than they were two seasons ago.