Positional Power Rankings: 30 best power forwards in the NBA
By John Buhler
Julius Randle
Power Forward, Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers may not have a superstar, yet, but they have several interesting young players on their otherwise terrible basketball team. Barring injuries, one player on that team that should have a long and productive NBA career is power forward Julius Randle.
He’s a bit undersized, but offers a solid low-post presence. Randle is most comfortable when he can create off the block with his back to the basket. It’s a throwback style to playing power forward, but one has to believe his offensive game still has a role in this style of NBA basketball.
Eventually, the 3point bubble will burst once basketball analytics discovers the inefficiencies in a good low-post to mid-range game. Randle’s offense skill set still works as a stretch-5, but he’s a traditional power forward through and through.
Los Angeles looks at Randle as an important piece in their rebuild. He’s a low-ceilinged, high-floor type of player. Don’t expect Randle to be a multi-time All-Star, but his brand of basketball is strong in fundamentals and doesn’t shy away from physicality. Maybe a slower paced NBA coincides with Randle entering his prime? Something has to give in the Wild West that is the pace-and-space era, right?