Julius Randle isn't looking back or dwelling on unfinished business in New York.
That chapter ended with the Knicks.
“It's over,” Randle, a member of the Timberwolves, said Sunday. “Right now I have unfinished business.”
Randle, whose five seasons at the Garden is the franchise's best since at least Carmelo Anthony, looks to repeat the success he had in January last season, when the Knicks went 14-2 and were nearly fully healthy. I was excited about the opportunity.
However, Randle dislocated his shoulder at the end of the same month and was traded to Minnesota in the Summer Shockers, eliminating any chance of his return.
“My whole thing since the day I got here is to control what I can control. And if that opportunity had come, I would have been ready for it. It wasn't.” said Randle. “And to be honest, I'm really happy and excited and blessed. There's unfinished business here. And that's what I've decided to focus on. .”
Randle could become a free agent after the season, but he has not played since suffering a dislocated shoulder and was inactive in Sunday's preseason contest against the Knicks.
However, he is expected to be ready before the regular season and hopes to prove his passing skills as the second scorer behind superstar Anthony Edwards.
Randle said New York's situation forced him into a bigger scoring role.
“I've always liked to say I'm more of a passer than a scorer,” said Randle, who averaged 22.6 points on 17.7 shots during his career with the Knicks. “That's what I really want to do. That's how I grew up playing basketball. The situation here in New York. [Tom Thibodeau] We needed to score more, so I took on that responsibility. And then Jalen came over and he moved away from me a little bit too. But it's fun to create games. That's what I enjoy doing.
“and [Minnesota coach Chris Finch] He puts me in different positions for playmaking. And I'm excited to show you that. Not only from the post, but also double teams. Finch moves me all over the floor and allows me to show it. I'm excited about that. ”
Randle's tenure in New York has had its ups and downs, with a three-time All-Star selection, playoff struggles and intense fan scrutiny.
In other words, he could have been booed one night and chanted “MVP” the next.
When asked what advice he would give Karl-Anthony Towns about meeting market expectations, Randle said he's gotten better at ignoring the negativity over his final two seasons with the Knicks. Please think about it.'' Just lock in and stay in the moment. This place tends to make things bigger than they seemed at the time. ”
The 29-year-old didn't want to predict the reaction to playing at the Garden again, but said it would be “cool” to return to the famous court: “I'll let them decide that.” I admitted it.
When asked what he remembers most about playing for the Knicks, Randle said, “Here, right here.” “It was a blessing to play here every night.”
