NBA Season Preview 2022-23: 5 players with the most to prove this season
By Luke Anton
2. Julius Randle — New York Knicks
The NBA’s 2020-21 Most Improved Player, Julius Randle was a third-team All-NBA selection and an All-Star two years ago. But last season Randle experienced a New York fall from grace.
Whether it was grappling with his own fans or storming off the court after a win, it was a tough look and an even tougher season after the grand surprise of the season prior.
The Knicks lost their defensive identity (until they found it in March), and Randle stopped making all of the ridiculously difficult shots that he always takes.
If anything else, Jalen Brunson’s arrival to the Big Apple will significantly alleviate Randle’s previous enormous shot-creation responsibility. The addition of a good point guard can work wonders for teams and players. The court should open up for Randle, who can focus on defense and being a bruiser — less fadeaways and more attacking the rim.
During a late-season ESPN broadcast during a Knicks game, Doris Burke said it best, “Play hard and play well, and the fans will cheer for you.”