Julius Randle to Break Playoff Curse?

The New York Knicks are the talk of the Empire State and the national NBA media. Following a season in which the Knicks finished as the two-seed and a win away from securing an Eastern Conference Finals berth, the offseason caused a fever pitch in their fan base. However, Julius Randle's name in relation to basketball production hasn't come up much.

Randle's contract has one guaranteed year, at $28.9 million for the 2024-25 season. Technically, he has another year left if he exercises his $30.9 million, which is doubtful as the All-NBA forward can make significantly more in 2025 free agency. However, considering such trade murmurs in the NBA discourse, Randle's contract makes easy trade fodder.

According to reports, the Knicks have no desire to trade Randle. However, it's all business if the Knicks seek to deepen their bench, even if such a scenario means losing their All-NBA forward. Feelings change, as do business plans.

If Randle wishes to stay in New York without taking a Jalen Brunson-level discount, his performance must improve, mainly in the NBA playoffs.

Before Brunson became a massive star in New York, Randle was the face of the Knicks when they made the playoffs in 2021. Randle earned his first All-Star bid that season and All-NBA Second-Team honors. Moreover, he won the Most Improved Player of the Year award and received MVP votes.

Winning in New York does wonders for NBA players.

However, the honeymoon ended abruptly as the Knicks lost to the lower-seed Atlanta Hawks in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs first round.

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Losing is one thing, but completely drowning in inefficiency as the ship sinks with Randle's face on the flag leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Randle regressed to feeble, well-below-average shooting metrics, including 29 percent from the field and recording more turnovers than assists.

Since the 2021 playoffs, Randle appeared in one other playoff run in 2023. Ultimately, the Knicks lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with Randle not playing the final game due to injury. Randle couldn't make amends for his 2021 postseason catastrophe, as he missed the entire 2024 playoffs due to a shoulder injury.

In a "what have you done for me lately?" industry, Randle has much to prove on a team with NBA Finals aspirations.