Julius Randle got a warm welcome back at Madison Square Garden on Monday, and it came from the same Knicks crowd that used to watch him night after night in blue and orange.
Before the Nets faced the reigning NBA champions Knicks, Randle was introduced at his old home arena and drew loud applause and cheers from the fans in attendance. The reception stood out, especially with Randle now wearing a Brooklyn uniform after his move across town.
Randle spent five seasons with New York, and his production there made him one of the most reliable frontcourt players in the league. In 330 games, all starts, he averaged 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 45.0 percent from the field. He also collected all three of his NBA All-Star selections while with the Knicks.
His path out of New York came just before the 2024-25 season, when the Knicks sent him to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-team trade that also involved the Charlotte Hornets. That deal brought Karl-Anthony Towns to New York, another former Kentucky star who later helped the Knicks win the franchise’s first NBA title in over five decades.
Randle’s latest stop arrived in July, when the Nets landed him from the Timberwolves in a four-team trade that also included the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets.
The Nets entered Monday’s game with some momentum after picking up their first win of the season, a 98-90 road victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
In Other News...
Nets Trade Deadline Could Reveal Their True Rebuild Plan
Brooklyns rebuild is starting to look less like a straight line and more like a test of priorities, with the trade deadline looming as a chance to decide what kind of timeline this front office really wants to follow. The Nets have been weighing ways to accelerate the process, and Michael Porter Jr. has emerged as the kind of player who could draw real interest from teams trying to push forward, including Detroit and Orlando.
What makes the next few weeks so interesting is the range of directions Brooklyn could choose from in return. The names being floated reflect very different kinds of upside, from a polished wing to a developmental swing and even a young big with long-term appeal, and each would say something different about how aggressive the Nets want to be about the reset. For now, it all depends on how the season develops and how willing Brooklyn is to turn one of its bigger pieces into a future-facing move. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Fans Have One Big Reason To Watch Porter Right Now
Michael Porter Jr. keeps giving Nets fans reasons to pay attention, and his latest milestone only adds to the intrigue. Against the Knicks, he reached 7,000 career points and joined a small group of NBA players with at least 7,000 points, 2,500 rebounds and 1,000 three-pointers, a reminder of how productive he has been as his role in Brooklyn has grown.
Since arriving with the Nets, Porter has looked more comfortable as a scorer, coming off a career-best 24.2 points last season. The bigger question now is what comes next, because the sides have yet to find common ground on an extension, leaving his long-term future in Brooklyn very much in play as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Fans Have Seen This Knicks Collapse Far Too Many Times
The latest trip to Madison Square Garden ended the way too many recent ones have for Brooklyn, with another loss to the Knicks and the same familiar frustration following the Nets back across the river. Brooklyn hung around for most of the night and even had a late edge, but the game slipped away in the fourth quarter as the Knicks steadied themselves and the Nets could not match the closing stretch.
Nolan Traor gave Brooklyn a lift with 17 points and four assists, and the young guard was one of the few Nets able to generate consistent offense. The bigger issue was on the other end, where perimeter defense remained shaky and the free throw gap added to the uphill climb, leaving Brooklyn with another reminder of how thin the margin has been in this matchup. [Read more 🡒]